What is probate?

Probate is the official proving of a will – which probably leaves you none the wiser. In layman’s terms, probate is the whole process of dealing with the estate of someone who has died.

Many people believe that as long as they are named as an executor in a will, they can just plough on and dispose of the money, possessions, property and debts accumulated by the deceased.

But like many things in life (and death), it’s not quite as simple as that. In most cases, the executor has to apply for the legal authority to administer the estate. Luckily, this can now be done online. Once the grant of probate has been received from the probate registry, the executor can get to work.

Yes, there are exceptions. A grant of probate may not be required if the estate is small or if there is jointly-owned property or if there are only savings or premium bonds. But be aware that financial institutions all have their own rules and may not release sums above a certain amount without a grant of probate.

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