The cost of dying has risen above £9000 in 2018 according to the SunLife (2018), Cost of Dying Report, which has been recording the costs of dying since 2007. Since they started the cost of dying has increased by 57% and in the last year alone, it has increased 3.4% from £8,905 in 2017 to £9,204 in 2018. The report is produced through an online survey and telephone interviews with funeral directors across the UK and combines funeral costs, send-off costs and the cost of professional fees to work out the average total cost. The average cost of a basic… read more →
What to expect from a DIY Probate kit Recently I have been noticing more and more adverts for “DIY Probate kit” claiming to be the answer to all your probate troubles! I like the idea of these kits and can see that having all the information you will need in one place would be helpful. Especially if you have little or no knowledge of probate it would seem a good place to start learning. So I decided to look a little deeper into what you will get from a DIY probate kit. After looking around online and in stores, I… read more →
The European parliament has back proposals which will bring in regulation that would change the way succession and inheritance is dealt with across the EU. The inheritance procedure will become much easier as you will be able to elect British law in your will to apply to assets you hold abroad. The New EU inheritance laws should prompt more people to right a will say experts, reported in the law Gazette. Under the new regulations, a British man who settles in France, for instance, could designate in his will that his assets be distributed according to the British laws of… read more →
Probate is a term that is used in several different ways, sometimes referred to as ‘administering the estate’, below is A brief guide to probate explaining the probate process. Probate is the legal process of obtaining a “grant of Probate” which gives a person the right to deal with a deceased person’s affairs, as indicated in their will. To put it simply, the probate process involves gathering information about the estate and completing a set of probate and inheritance tax applications and providing them to the necessary courts who will issue a grant of probate. Probate solicitors can help an… read more →
When do you need a Probate professional? when dealing with probate. Applying for probate is a task that many people find daunting, some people do successfully apply for probate themselves and some people don’t have the time to give up to the hours of paperwork and others simply don’t feel confident in their knowledge of probate. Probate can be very complex and even the smallest of estates can take between 6-9 months to complete. Some people may have experience of dealing with probate in the past and are well aware of the obstacles that may arise and others wouldn’t even… read more →
Are you fully prepared for retirement, Have you thought about what could happen? You need to Plan now Not later. New stats below show. Do you have anything in place to make sure those closest to you are looked after later on in life? In May 2012, the BBC reported that of the 29 million people employed within the private sector, only 3.2 million of those employees contributed to a workplace pension. The same report also stated that the number of individuals making use of company pension schemes has halved since 1991. Thanks to modern lifestyles and advances in medicine,… read more →
We spend our whole lives working and saving money only for are relatives to get a bad deal upon our death. Inheritance tax has been falling in real terms for 3 decades. The value Of Inheritance tax reliefs has been cut by a 3rd because the government has not raised it to be in line with inflation. This is not good news for the savers and their relatives. Peter Goodman, partner at Wilkins Kennedy, says: “Simple reliefs such as the annual allowance on transfers or gifts are very popular, but £3,000 doesn’t go as far today as it did in… read more →
A Grant of probate and a grant of letters of administration are both forms of grants of representation. A grant of representation is an official document with a stamp in the lower right-hand corner. It shows the person who has died – name, address and date of death, the total value of his or her estate and the names and addresses of the personal representatives. The grant is proof that the personal representatives have authority to deal with the estate. Typically, it is required before the personal representatives can collect funds, sell property and so on. To obtain a grant… read more →
At some point in our lives the time will come where you have to speak to your parents about your inheritance. Discussing your inheritance seems to be a topic that is a bit of a taboo and many find the idea extremely uncomfortable. No one wants to think about a loved one not being around anymore but unfortunately the time will come. Anything you can do in advance can make that loss a bit easier to cope with. That is why discussing your inheritance is something that needs to be done. How do you as an adult approach the hard… read more →
Cheap Probate Lawyers or Cheap Probate Solicitors I have noticed on Google recently that a lot of people are searching for Cheap Probate Lawyers in the UK. It isn’t something that a lot of webmasters take into account when writing content for a UK probate site, Because like most people in the UK, we call probate lawyers probate solicitors. I suppose with the mix of cultures that we see in the UK we should be looking into what the public wants and how people use google to search for the services they require. Now cheap probate lawyers are easy to come… read more →
The Probate Service forms part of the HM Courts & Tribunals Service. It deals with ‘non-contentious’ probate, which is probate applications where there is no dispute about the authenticity of a will or any entitlement to a grant. The probate service is responsible for issuing grants of representation which are in most cases required in order for a deceased’s persons assets to be administered. There are 3 types of grant of representation that the court will issue. Grant of Probate (when the deceased person left a valid will and an executor is acting) Letters of administration with will (when a… read more →
Online probate: You can source so many online probate pages just from typing in the word into google, most are government web sites and some are relating to ancestry. You can find websites giving you information and contact forms. What makes Final duties special is we offer online probate quotes straight away, we don’t need to visit your home we don’t need to book you in for an online quotation, we take Probate seriously. The reason why we have such a unique service is to help people during such a hard time gain the best probate price and take the… read more →
The definition of probate is the legal proving of a will. Applying for probate is the legal process of making an application to the Probate Court for a ‘grant of probate’ or when there is no will ‘letters of administration’. You need a grant of probate in order to pass the deceased’s property and other assets to their chosen beneficiaries as stated in their last will and testament. When there is no will the law decides who has the right to inherit by placing any potential heirs into an order of priority known as the rules of intestacy. When someone… read more →
DIY wills can make your life very complicated if not written properly, It’s very advisable that you look into getting a professional will. Generally people know why we should all make a will, but while the idea itself is quite simple in theory, making sure that it is done properly is very important. While you want to make certain the right people are identified in your will, it often happens that it is not done in the right way. Especially if it is a do it yourself will or a will prepared by an unqualified unprofessional and often uninsured will… read more →
How does The Probate Process Work? Probate can be very complicated and time consuming. After the loss of a loved one it is important that you carry out their final wishes. Calling an expert at Final Duties can help you carry out the last will and testament of the deceased. Understanding how probate works can help you through the complicated process of death. The main purpose of probate is to help in managing the estate or assets of a person who has died. Probate court is a particular type of court that deals exclusively with this process. The first step… read more →
Probate Market leaders Final Duties tests the market leaders – In a recent mystery shopping exercise Final Duties invited the probate market leaders to quote for a simple probate estate. Both the CO-OP and Simplify (the chosen provider of Barclays Bank) insisted on meeting face to face as part of their sales process and so appointments lasting about an hour were booked with both. We asked each representative to quote for identical estates with a value of £137,000 made up of one property and two bank accounts. The CO-OP quoted £4631.62 and Simplify £3080.40. A fixed rate quote for the… read more →
Save money on probate Final Duties aims to offer a value-for-money probate service where the cost is determined at the outset and is based purely on the actual work involved. We provide a fixed fee probate quote with no hidden costs and without having to visit your home. This allows us to provide a very competitive fee structure when compared to other probate services providers while ensuring a high quality of standard for all our clients. through a process which is compliant, empathetic and not sacrificing quality of service. We use a panel of qualified and regulated Solicitors. Probate is… read more →
The Question “Do I need a probate solicitor?” in one that we hear on a regular basis, or we see when browsing conversations in online forums, “Do I need a Probate Solicitor?” The answer is no, there is no law stating that you need to use a solicitor when applying for a Grant of Probate. If someone chooses to take the responsibility of dealing with a whole probate case without legal professionals then that is not a problem, although having some kind of experience within probate probably would be an asset as probate can be very time consuming and complicated.… read more →
An explanation about Probate Property Valuations and what’s involved It is common that when someone passes away that the most valuable asset in their estate is property. Hopefully they will have written a will which dictates how their property should be managed. If there is no will their property and other assets will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy. When applying for probate the property will need to be valued even if the beneficiaries are not planning on selling it. The property that is subject to probate will be valued based upon the ‘open market value’. This gives… read more →
ITV daybreak reports on will writing is a program that has aired in the UK on ITV. Featuring Actress Tina Hobley and family Lawyer Marilyn Stowe, it concentrates on the importance of writing a will and doing it now. Statistics in the UK show that around 56% of adults have not written a will, that’s half the population. Many people don’t realise what would happen to their children or families if anything was to happen. The number of cohabiting couples in the UK rose by 292,000 between 2001 and 2011. Last year a survey found that when it comes to property… read more →
Mourning and grief are experiences which are almost certain to take place to us sooner or later in life. Coping with Bereavement ordinarily means to lose someone we feel affection for through death. It results in a great longing for the deceased person and a cycle of adjustment which may well take years. All parts of our being may possibly be affected – emotional, physical, spiritual and social – but the overriding feeling is one of intense pain, or grief. Stats from BBC website below It’s estimated that each day 500 women in the UK will become widows. It’s estimated that… read more →
The Cost of dying rises to equal three months worth of the average UK wage. Yet almost half of the population are unprepared. The cost of dying has risen to the equivalent of three months worth of the average pre-tax British salary, according to figures published this week. In the UK today, the cost of dying – which include death-related costs such as funerals, probate, headstones and flowers – have increased to an average of £7,248. That represents a rise of 20% since 2007 and over £400 since last year. However, Sun Life Direct, the insurer which carried out the… read more →
What is Estate planning Nobody wants to spend too much time thinking about death, but the importance of proper estate planning is paramount to the people in your life who you will leave behind. It may sound morbid and slightly daunting, but some simple pre-planning will make your passing a little easier for your family and friends once you are gone. So what is Estate Planning? Estate planning put clearly is arranging your assets so that the people you wish to benefit from your passing do so, and aren’t left with nothing. Your assets can be anything that you own… read more →
Final Duties are aware that the administration of an estate and applying for probate can be a long and stressful process. So we have created a guide to the steps of probate in order to help you break down the process into manageable sections if you were looking to DIY probate. Please be aware that the process differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland therefore please follow the links for more information. Many of the steps of probate will be linked to other blog posts which go into more detail about that subject. We have also linked the relevant HMRC and… read more →
Know what HMRC require when dealing with probate Finding the right Inheritance Tax and probate forms, for example a pa -1 can be a very simple process. The forms you need depend on the complexity of the estate. The HMRC website helps you to find the form that is required. The site gives you information and advice and points you in the right direction to get you started with probate. HMRC Probate. Once you have downloaded and printed all the correct forms we will help you through the next steps giving you a low cost fixed fee probate quote and… read more →
Losing someone you love can be one of the hardest things we ever have to go through in our life’s. Probate disputes can arise for a number of reasons. Firstly if the deceased left no will, known as dying intestate or if a family member or members don’t agree with what is written on the will. Here is some of the main reasons a will can be disputed. Fraud Undue influence Disputes regarding who has been made executor Disputes regarding who has been made administrator Disputing the Power of attorney The deceased wasn’t mentally capable of writing a will The will… read more →
If you are reading this then you have just found out that you’ve been named executor of an estate. What does this mean for you? Being named as an executor of an estate, also referred to as a “personal representative”, doesn’t have to be a daunting task. If you get yourself organised from the start the process can run very smoothly. As the executor of an estate you are responsible for the administration, protection and distribution of the estate. The administration of an estate can involve; Gathering information about the deceased’s assets Protecting the estates assets while subject to probate (if… read more →
Avoid a probate final rip off when sorting out your loved one’s estate. Article sourced from the Guardian; http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/sep/21/probate-avoid-rip-off-comparing Outside executors can cream off thousands – you don’t want to make an already testing time worse by not comparing probate services. Probate is the process through which you take over a person’s affairs. A bereavement is bad enough; finding out later that you have been ripped off by your bank or solicitor when dealing with the estate just piles on the misery. Fees for what is known as “probate” – the process by which you obtain the rights to deal… read more →
More than 100,000 people this year alone will struggle to leave enough money behind to cover the bill for their funerals. Poor people can’t afford to die without leaving a bill that their family need to find the money to pay. The average cost of dying, including funeral, burial or cremation and Estate administration, is £7,622 – a rise of 7.1% in the past year. Families on low incomes can get state help through the Social Fund Funeral Payment but face an average £1,277 shortfall, according to the University of Bath. The report had challenged the Government to rethink the… read more →
Are you in London or surrounding areas and require Probate services? Final Duties can offer a value-for-money probate service through regulated specialist firms and assist with the next steps with helpful advice and an empathetic approach . We provide quick and simple quotes. Unlike many banks and other probate providers we do not even have to arrange for a face-to-face appointment. The London Probate office is located at the First Avenue House at 42-49 High Holborn. The First Avenue House has 19 Family Division courts and holds a complete set of calendars of wills and administrations from 1858. The First… read more →
Living abroad is becoming a popular option among British retirees. With the cost of living in the UK increasing, the opportunity to exchange rainy days for Sea and sand is an attractive one. Making your money stretch further with lower property prices, cheap goods and all year sunshine, it’s easy to see why many Brits are making the move. However with the excitement of a more leisurely life style it’s easy to forget things like updating your will or writing a will to include dealing with foreign assets. Property or assets are subject to the laws of the country in… read more →