What is probate?
Probate is the legal process that follows a person’s death, dealing with everything needed to sort out their money, property, and possessions. It confirms whether a Will is valid and sets out how the estate should be handled. The process can range from relatively straightforward to incredibly complex, depending on the circumstances of the estate. Our team of probate solicitors in Manchester provide a wide range of probate services, including:
- Probate Applications – helping you secure the legal authority needed to deal with an estate, including grants of probate and letters of administration, ensuring everything is completed correctly and in a timely manner.
- Estate Administration – managing the full estate administration process, including identifying and collecting assets, settling any outstanding debts and liabilities, and arranging for the remaining estate to be distributed to the appropriate beneficiaries. In cases requiring court proceedings, our probate solicitors in Manchester will provide support and guidance, representing you at any hearings and working to resolve litigation matters like disputed Wills.
- Inheritance Tax Planning – providing clear guidance on inheritance tax planning and migration strategies and helping to compliantly reduce tax liabilities.
- Contentious Probate – navigating disputes concerning Wills and estates, helping to resolve disagreements between parties where the validity of a Will, the distribution of assets, or the conduct of an estate is challenged.
- Intestacy Administration – where a loved one has died without leaving a valid Will, we will guide you through the rules of intestacy, helping to identify those legally entitled to inherit, as well as managing the administration of the estate.
- Trust Administration – assisting with the ongoing administration of trusts, ensuring assets are managed appropriately and distributed in line with the terms of the trust.
- Professional Executor Services – taking responsibility for administering estates with impartiality and care, ensuring all legal and administrative duties are properly managed, and the estate is dealt with in accordance with the deceased’s wishes.
- International Probate – overseeing the complexities of international probate, including international assets, overseas beneficiaries, or estates with cross-jurisdictional considerations.
- Executor Support Services – if you’ve been appointed as an executor, our team will be by your side, providing practical assistance and helping you meet your legal responsibilities with confidence and clarity.
How do we support you through probate administration?
At Farleys, we understand how daunting the probate administration process can be, especially when you’re already grieving. With that in mind, we do everything we can to keep things as clear and straightforward as possible, dividing the process into five simple steps.
First, we’ll conduct an initial estate review and assessment. At this early stage, we’ll work to identify assets and liabilities, confirming beneficiaries and considering the terms of the Will where applicable. We’ll also identify any challenges we might face in the process, answering all of your questions and ensuring you’re completely informed from start to finish.
Our probate solicitors in Manchester will then manage all aspects of the probate application, liaising directly with the Probate Registry and overseeing any associated inheritance tax requirements. Once authority is in place, we’ll handle the collection and valuation of assets, ensure debts and taxes are properly settled, and oversee the orderly distribution of the estate. We also prepare clear final estate accounts so that everything is recorded and concluded in a transparent and structured way.
Why choose our probate solicitors in Manchester?
At Farleys, we’ve expertly navigated a diverse range of probate cases, from straightforward circumstances with clear Wills, to multi-million-pound estates, complex family disputes and even international assets. Whatever your case involves, our aim is to reduce as much of the administrative and legal burden as possible, giving you the space to focus on what matters most while feeling confident that everything is being handled properly.
With decades of experience in probate and estate matters, we take a tailored approach to every case, recognising that no two situations are the same. We always work with sensitivity and discretion, paying close attention to detail and ensuring you’re kept fully informed in clear, straightforward language. From the outset, we provide realistic expectations around timescales and outcomes, so you always have a transparent understanding of the process and what to expect as matters progress.
