Our Probate Services
Thy Will be Done (Spain) Ltd are able to offer comprehensive step by step help and support for your loved ones when they will need it most by taking the massive burden away from a relative or family friend who may otherwise have been appointed as Executor and not really wished to take on the role.
We provide a complete professional estate administration service enabling us to offer an holistic proposition to all of our clients, giving them real peace of mind that when the time comes all aspects of winding up and administering their estates will be done gently, efficiently and professionally.
Using this scheme means that at a time when your nearest and dearest will not necessarily be functioning at their best, they will not have the added stress of having to find and negotiate with Solicitors etc as all the work and the fees associated with it will have very sensibly been organised and agreed by you in advance.
How our Scheme of Works.
• At the appropriate time our Probate Specialist will make an initial contact with the Executors introducing them to the Probate service.
• A telephone conference is then arranged at the Executors’ choice of time and the process is fully explained including all likely costs.
• Letters are then sent to the companies where the deceased held their assets and liabilities to officially register the death and to obtain the date of death valuations.
• The death is then officially registered with other organisations e.g. HMRC and Utility companies and the relevant details are obtained to complete the income tax return.
• On completion of all date of death valuations the relevant HMRC paperwork will be completed, the Oath is prepared and an application to the High Court for the Grant of Probate is made.
• The Probate Registry will then issue the Grant of Probate; this process can take up to 6-8 weeks from the date that the Probate Registry receives the paperwork.
• The Executors are then informed that the Grant of probate has been received.
• The Grant of Probate is then sent to the various companies to release the assets held by the deceased.
• Upon receipt of the assets all outstanding debts in the deceased’s name will settled directly and any legacies within the Will are then distributed.
• The tax return of the deceased is then completed for the past tax year to date of death and any further returns are then submitted, including those for the estate if required.
• The Executors will then be contacted to schedule an appointment to present the final estate accounts and to arrange the various payments to the Beneficiaries of the estate/trusts.
Our Probate Fees Explained.
If we are taking care of the whole process we only charge 1.75% + v.a.t of the estate assets (as compared to between 4% and 6% charged by some banks and solicitors) and our minimum fee is just £1800 including v.a.t.
We can be hired by the hour at £360 per hour or we can assist (up to 5 hours) for £900 inc v.a.t
Are there any additional costs?
A fixed rate for any disbursements is always agreed in advance and is determined by the size and complexity of the estate and our specialist Solicitors can also carry out any subsequent house sales or conveyancing which ensures continuity for all involved - fees for these services will always be agreed in advance.
Because of the complex nature of many of our clients' protection strategies that we have put in place for them, we always recommend that their Executors seek our advice immediately upon a client's death. Many good protective strategies can be unwittingly undone by a novice Executor without knowing, costing the estate significant sums in many cases. In many cases it is preferable that we are appointed Executors in the first instance.
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