RBR - Bereavement Brochure V6 individual pages - Flipbook - Page 21
How do you sort out the estate of the deceased?
When a person dies somebody has to deal with his or her estate.
Their estate includes their money, property and the possessions
they have left. If you are the person doing this you collate all the
funds, pay any debts and share out the estate to those people
entitled to it.
You can do this yourself or you can engage a solicitor to do this
for you. You may already have a solicitor your family uses. If not, you
will need to choose one. Ask friends for recommendations and, when
you contact them, remember to check their fees and charges.
How do you apply for probate?
To sort out someone’s estate, you may need to apply for probate.
The Probate Office will give you a grant of probate if the person
left a will, or will grant letters of administration if there isn’t a will.
Your local Probate Registry will send you the forms you need with
notes and guidance on what you have to do. For more information
please visit: www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance. If you cannot
access the internet the Digital Support helpline is 03300 160051
Further help
If you have any difficulty in dealing with the deceased’s estate
or guardianship of their children, you should get advice from a
solicitor or the Citizen’s Advice Bureau as soon as possible.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau telephone number: 0808 223 1133
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