Bereavement matters cover the practical and legal steps after a death, including the administration of an estate, determining who inherits, and handling taxes and debts. A solicitor in this area navigates wills, intestacy rules, and the probate process to obtain a grant of probate or letters of administration, collect assets, pay liabilities, and distribute the estate to beneficiaries. They also advise on challenges to an estate, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act, and trusted executorship duties.
What a solicitor handles in these matters
The solicitor handles the complex sequence of collecting assets, paying liabilities, valuing property, and preparing estate accounts. They draft or review wills, exploit probate and estate administration procedures, liaise with HM Revenue & Customs for inheritance tax issues, and communicate with executors, beneficiaries, banks, and probate registries. Their work hinges on careful adherence to statutory deadlines and proper management of fiduciary duties.