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Wills and Probate

Hilcrest Solicitors GB Limited Wills & Probate services include:
  • Preparing Joint & Single Wills and Codicils
  • Dealing efficiently with Inheritance Tax Returns
  • Obtaining Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
  • Acting for (or as) executors and administrators

Death is not something that most people like to think about. However, it is also inevitable. As such, it pays to be prepared. If you are thinking about making a Will, you should talk to professional Wills and Probate solicitors like us. Making a Will helps to ensure your assets pass on to your intended beneficiaries and that your loved ones are protected in the future thus avoiding the difficulties of intestacy rules and the stress of your estate not being distributed in accordance with your wishes.

Our Service and Estimated Timescales

Your instructions will include a minimum of two meetings. At the first meeting, we will take your instructions including details of the executors you wish to appoint, as well as money and/ or other gifts you wish to leave to individuals and/ or charities etc. After the finalisation of your instructions at the initial meeting, we will then follow up with the preparation of a draft Will within 7 working days, which is sent to you for your approval. Our charges are reasonable, considering the amount of work involved. Once you are happy with your Will, a second meeting is then arranged for you to attend our offices with your witnesses in order to sign the Will.

Provided we have your complete instructions, we estimate the time for the preparation of your Will, from the initial meeting to the signing of the Will, to be between 1 and 3 weeks.

Probate (Non-Contentious)

At Hilcrest Solicitors GB Limited, we are able to obtain the Grant of Probate/ Letters of Administration (known as the ‘Grant of Representation’). Our work in this regard includes obtaining valuations of the assets and liabilities in the estate, preparation of the HMRC tax returns, preparation of the probate forms and oath and application to the District Probate Registry for the Grant of Representation. We estimate this stage to take between 6 weeks and 3 months.

Factors which may affect timescales are whether (and when) the estate valuations are provided to us, whether there are claims for exemptions and reliefs, e.g. transfer of a predeceased spouse’s nil rate band, and dealing with enquiries raised by HMRC, etc.

After Grant of Representation

Certain elements of administering an estate can vary the process from one probate matter to another. These factors can have a big impact on timescales and require additional work to be done. If this is relevant in your own probate matter, we will inform you of this at the earliest opportunity, as well as discuss our fees for the additional work.

Generally, our work in this regard includes collecting the assets, serving any requisite notices, placing any requisite advertisements, settling any liabilities of the estate, making the distributions to beneficiaries, and preparing the distribution accounts. We estimate this stage to take between 6 weeks and 4 months. However, the following factors may affect timescales – non-straightforward cases, the number of assets to collect, details of beneficiaries, whether any tax is payable during the administration period e.g. Capital Gains Tax, etc.

So, Contact Us  now to arrange an appointment to discuss your estate or to find out more about our Wills and Probate services.