Should I hire a probate solicitor?

Part 1

How can a probate solicitor help?

Probate solicitors usually offer two services: a grant-only service, and full estate administration.

If you hire a solicitor for a grant-only service, they will handle your entire probate application. This means that the solicitor will contact all the relevant organisations to figure out the value of your loved one’s estate and how much tax they owed. They will then complete the probate and tax forms for you and submit your application. Once your application has been approved by the probate registry, your solicitor will send you the grant of probate by post. After this, your solicitor’s work is done, and they will leave you to administer the estate your own.

If you hire a solicitor for a full estate administration service, they will do everything stated above, and they will also handle the estate for you once probate has been granted. This includes selling or transferring property, collecting funds and closing bank accounts, paying taxes, claiming on life insurance, and distributing funds to the beneficiaries of the will (or if there is no will, those who stand to inherit according to the rules of intestacy).

Part 2

How to find a probate solicitor

The easiest way to find a solicitor is by searching online, specifically using the website Solicitors.com. When you enter your city, town, or county, you will be presented with a list of probate solicitors to contact for a quote. It is recommended that you contact as many solicitors as possible, as prices vary significantly, and many solicitors don’t charge by an upfront, fixed fee but rather a percentage of the estate or an hourly rate. These can be risky choices as you won’t know exactly how much you owe until you come to pay, and the price is often higher than you would guess – sometimes over £10,000 even for a relatively simple estate. The safest option is to go with someone who charges a fixed fee.

Part 3

Is a solicitor necessary for probate?

You don’t need to hire a solicitor to apply for probate. In fact, you can complete the entire probate process, from filling out forms to distributing assets, on your own if you wish.

However, many people choose to hire a solicitor because probate is an extremely complicated process and can be time-consuming if you are handling it alone.

If solicitors are too expensive or their pricing is too risky for you, a probate service such as Kwil might be preferred. Kwil charges a fixed fee for the same service, often at a lower rate than solicitors. The main difference between hiring a solicitor and a professional probate service like Kwil is that with Kwil, everything will be done online, over the phone, and by post. With a solicitor, you might visit them in person to discuss your situation. If a face-to-face service isn’t something you require, you could save money by opting for a professional probate service instead. You can browse our website for our prices or give us a call for a quote on full estate administration.