Guidance regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19) read more Find a funeral director Planning ahead Our services Help and Advice News Corporate Contact us Home / Help and Advice / Cost of a funeral / Wills and Probate Wills and Probate The information here is a very brief introduction to a complex subject. If you are not sure if Probate will be necessary, call our free helpline on 0808 164 2239. Alternatively, for more information on Wills, please read our guide on how Wills work after death. When someone dies, there are certain tasks that need to be taken care of. Anyone responsible for dealing with an estate is called a Personal Representative. The Personal Representatives are the executors named in the Will or, if there isn’t one, the people set out in law. A Grant of Probate, or Probate Record, is a legal order which allows the executor of a Will or their professional representative to deal with the property and financial affairs of the person who has died. This is usually granted by their nearest district Probate Registry. However, when most people use the word Probate they mean the whole process of discovering what someone has left (usually referring to money and possessions), going through the legal process of gaining authority to deal with it (whether there is a Will or not), paying off any debts and finally distributing the remainder to the people entitled to receive it. This is the administration of the estate, which can take up to a year or more depending on the complexity and whether a property is involved. Many people choose to use professional help to deal with the legal formalities of obtaining the Grant of Probate and administering an estate. As with all professional services you will be charged (but in many cases the fees are deducted from the estate); do ask as many questions as you need to about price structures and how the service will be provided. Whether you need Probate depends on the value of the estate. An asset holder (e.g. a bank) can insist that a Grant of Probate be obtained for any amount over £5,000, although many have a higher threshold. This is the procedure laid down in law to ensure the wishes of the person who has died are carried out, creditors are paid and that the people and family members named as beneficiaries receive their entitlement. Banks should be contacted quickly to secure the estate and prevent fraud. It’s a good idea to keep a note of who you spoke to and the date and time of the call. The law and procedure relating to Probate differs in different parts of the United Kingdom. There are some considerable differences between applying for Confirmation in Scotland and applying for Probate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is because Scotland has a separate judicial system and the differences between Confirmation and Probate are matters of law, upheld by the Scottish Courts. You can find out more by contacting your government services. This service can also be used to order a copy of a Probate Record as well as the Will if there is one. National Bereavement Service 0808 164 2239 Open Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm and Saturday 9.00am – 2.00pm DWP Claims People claiming benefits may be entitled to help from the DWP. Read the article Government benefits People can be on benefits for a variety of reasons and a change of circumstances, especially the death of a partner, can affect your own entitlement. Read the article How does a Will work after death If your loved one has passed away and you’ve been left in charge of their estate, you may be wondering: how does a Will work after death. Read the article Further Reading: Bereavement Support It can be a confusing time following a death and difficult to know what you need to do first. We are glad to be able to offer help and support at this difficult time. Next Article Funeral Partners Funeral directors near me Cremation funeral services Funeral undertakers Repatriation services About us (corporate) Contact us Careers Find a Funeral Director Funeral Directors in London Funeral Directors in Birmingham Funeral Directors in Manchester Funeral Directors in Hampshire Funeral Directors in Yorkshire Funeral Directors in Kent Funeral Directors in Berkshire Help and Advice What to do when someone dies Arranging a funeral Types of funerals Cost of a funeral Attending a Funeral After A Funeral Bereavement support Follow Us © Funeral Partners Ltd. Copyright © 2021 Registered Office: 80 Mount Street, Nottingham, NG1 6HH Company No. 06276941 Privacy PolicyDisclaimerModern Slavery StatementComplaints ProcedureCorporate Social ResponsibilityGuidance Regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19)Keeping Our Clients and Teams Safe We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More