What happens when the Grant of Probate is issued?

Now it’s all systems go, as they say at NASA mission control. Armed with the grant of probate, you can collect and sell assets, pay debts and distribute the remainder of the estate in accordance with the will or the rules of intestacy.

This should be straightforward as the whole estate will have already been valued and banks and other financial institutions will release funds on receipt of a copy of the grant.

What if you are not an executor but have been appointed as an administrator by the probate registry? Then now is the time to place an advertisement in The London Gazette, a weekly government publication that contains various legal notices, and in your local newspaper asking for creditors to get in touch. By law, after that has happened, anyone owed money by the deceased has only two months to stake a claim. Other people who have a claim on the estate have six months to make themselves known to the personal representative.

One thing to remember, when paying off debts, always ask for a full and final receipt of settlement for the final accounts.

For expert help with the probate process, contact Heritage Will Writing on 02380 879243.