Probate and estate administration

When someone close to you dies, somebody has to deal with their estate. Boys & Maughan can help you make the right choices - we have years of experience and knowledge to offer. 

For a free initial probate consultation where we will explain the work involved in your particular circumstances and the immediate steps you need to take contact a member of our team or fill in the form on the right hand side of this page.

How we help
If you are an executor, or if someone close to you dies without making a will, we can advise you on the steps you have to take to deal with their affairs.

If there is a will, we will explain the terms of the will to you, or if there isn’t a will, we will explain to you who deals with the administration and who inherits the estate.

An estate refers to a person’s property and possessions. It encompasses everything that the person owns, including all financial assets they hold, as well as their material possessions.

Grant of probate or letters of administration
We will tell you if you need to apply for a grant of probate if there is a will or a grant of letters of administration if there isn’t. If the estate is relatively modest, it may be that a grant will not be required.

Estate administration
We can help you deal with all aspects of the administration of the estate, including settling the inheritance tax liability, if any, applying for the grant, calling in all the assets, settling all the estate liabilities, arranging payment of any legacies, completing the deceased’s income tax affairs, and arranging distribution of the estate to the beneficiaries.

Alternatively, you can ask us to just apply for the grant of probate or grant of letters of administration for you, leaving you to administer the estate yourself. Grant-only services are provided on a fixed fee basis where there are no complications.

We will always agree our charges with you before we do anything and tell you what costs there will be. If you are looking for a general idea of how much it will cost see our page about our charges. 

How long does probate take and how much will it cost?
Timescales vary according to the complexity of the estate and type of support you choose. We will give you an estimate of the timings when you first come to see us or you can . For more details see our how much will it cost and how long will it take page.

Is the will unfair?
If you feel a will is unfair or does not adequately provide for you, we can tell you if you can make a claim against the estate under the Inheritance (Provisions for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Similarly, if there is no will and you feel the distribution of the estate under the rules of intestacy is unfair or does not adequately provide for you, we can tell you if you can claim against the estate. To find out more visit our probate and will disputes page.

In addition, if you are an executor, administrator or trustee we can advise you on your role and duties so you can avoid potential disputes.

Why choose us? 

• We have a flexible approach and will tailor our services to your needs
• We offer fixed fees wherever possible
• We are regulated specialist advisers on wills, lasting powers of attorney, probate, trusts, and care and estate planning
• Our team includes members of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and The Association of Lifetime Lawyers
• We confirm our advice and your instructions in writing
• No storage fees – we store your documents securely for free
• Boys & Maughan has been providing expert local advice for over 200 years.

Contact us to discuss your circumstances
Our usual approach is to have an initial no obligation phone call to explore your needs and circumstances. During the conversation we will be happy to discuss our fees and offer you an appointment at one of our offices. Please ring your local Boys & Maughan office, use the form on this page to drop us a line, or view our team profiles and contact one of our lawyers directly.