Probate

Taking care of your probate at a difficult time
Dealing with death is one of the most distressing stages of life and at Chris Clark Solicitors you can be assured of a caring, kind and personalised service. Appointments are available in Cannock or Stafford.
Chris Clark Solicitor Supervises our Probate department and personally deals with such sensitive matters but may be assisted by our other Directors, Daniel Webb and/or Ken Calladine.
Brief Outline of our Probate Services
The work which would ordinarily be undertaken in order to extract a Grant of Administration or Probate to an Estate and in order for us to carry out all foreseeable steps to wind up the Estate to a satisfactory conclusion:-
1. Taking full instructions and obtaining full particulars of all assets belonging to the deceased and all debts and liabilities comprised in the Estate.Perusing all correspondence and documents which relate or could relate to assets and liabilities comprised in the Estate Corresponding with all asset holders and creditors in order to obtain a valuation of the assets and liabilities in the Estate in order to arrive at a net value of the Estate for Probate purposes to include where a valid Will is produced corresponding with Executors and Beneficiaries.
2. Collating all information received, settling a Statement of Truth and preparation of forms for an online application necessary to lead to a Grant of Probate/Administration. At the same time, an Inland Revenue Return form will be completed where appropriate.
3. Attending you for the purpose of going through the application and confirming that the information is correct prior to submitting the application.
4. Compiling all information and submitting a paper or online application to the District Probate Registry for the Grant.
5. On receipt of the Grant registering the same with all authorities, obtaining funds from the various asset holders, settling debts existing at the date of death and settling the funeral account as and when in funds.
6. Obtaining Executors’ signatures to all forms required by the asset holders.
7. Preparation of final Estate accounts recording receipt of all funds received from asset holders and detailing all moneys paid out in settling the debts due from the Estate.
8. Obtaining approval to the final accounts and effecting distribution in accordance therewith.
Fees & Timescales
Please see the Fees/Documents page for further details of the price for the above services.
If Inheritance Tax is not payable the matter could be completed within 6 months ( for a standard Estate). However, if Inheritance Tax does become payable as we discover further details of the Estate, then the time estimate is likely to be longer, around 12 months which is also the case with more complicated Estates-hence the expression ”The Executors Year”.
This timescale does not take into account any third party complications and non straightforward issues arising so it may be necessary to revise this timetable in the future but we will inform you if this is the case. In our experience there can be delays at The Probate Registry but we do have access to The Law Society Working Group that can assist if this does become the case.