Probate Meaning

A grant of representation can sometimes be known as a ‘grant of probate’, ‘letters of administration’ or ‘letters of administration with a will’.

The terms ‘Grant of Probate’ and ‘Grant of Letters of Administration’ mean a legal document issued by a section of Her Majesty’s Court Service to the Personal Representatives of a deceased’s estate.  The Grant gives the Personal Representatives the authority to deal with the deceased’s estate.  If the deceased left a Will the Personal Representatives are referred to as ‘Executors’ in the Will. If the deceased died without a Will the Personal Representatives will normally be one or more members of the family of the deceased who are entitled to inherit the estate under the intestacy rules.

The duties of Personal Representatives are to collect in the assets of the deceased and then pay off any debts, taxes, funeral expenses, any other liabilities and administrative expenses. If the deceased left a Will the Personal Representatives then distribute the estate according to the terms of the Will. If the deceased did not leave a Will the Personal Representatives will need to distribute the estate to those individuals entitled under the intestacy rules.

A Personal Representative will need to ensure that the estate is administered and distributed accurately to avoid liability from anyone who may have an interest in the estate. We recognise that Personal Representatives may need assistance with their responsibility especially at a distressing time.  Redmonds Solicitors, can assist Personal Representatives with the administration of an Estate from obtaining probate valuations, determining the size of an estate, potential tax liabilities, obtaining a Grant from the Court and distributing the estate to beneficiaries. They can offer a full service or a service limited to those particular areas which a Personal Representative may need assistance with.

Contact our Probate Solicitors

For more information on our Probate services or to speak to one of our solicitors for assistance in this area, please contact us.

Information about our fees for a probate matter can be found here.