Providing Probate Services in Devon is one of the key services we provide and there are few phrases that make my heart sink more quickly than “I wish we had met you sooner because we paid a fortune when dealing with our parents’ Probate”.
Not in all cases, but on many occasions when people approach their local High Street solicitor or a Legal Services firm such as Co-op Legal Services after the death of a loved one, they rarely see much change out of £10,000. Such firms will also drag their feet and take around 9 months to obtain Grant of Probate for the estate, so that the large amount of fees they take seems better value. This is far more than anybody needs to pay and far longer than anyone needs to wait, and In some instances, this is the case even though a Grant of Probate certificate is not necessary!
Rather than blindly follow tradition or habit, it pays to carry out research and shop around BEFORE making any decisions regarding Probate. In most instances, if you use a suitably qualified and experienced Probate Guidance consultant, a deceased person’s estate should only pay a few hundred pounds to obtain Grant of Probate, with far more money remaining in the estate for beneficiaries. Please be aware that the Probate Registry charge a separate fee, currently £215, which would be in addition to those paid to any solicitor, Legal Services company or Probate Guidance consultant.
For occasions such as this, Probate is either granted or it is not, so paying high legal fees does not gain you any advantage. Quite the contrary!
At a time of intense emotion and confusion, you should not feel pressured or obligated to use traditional or unaccountable firms with high overheads to cover.
Although we are based in Devon, we can act for any estate in England or Wales. For further information, please contact me, Michael Cotterill or (01392) 773433/07784 028708.
TRF Wills (TRF) was created by Michael Cotterill in 2005. He is a member of the Society of Will Writers and registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.