What is probate and estate administration?
The probate process simply confirms who has the legal authority to carry out the estate administration for a deceased person.
If there’s a will, the named executor will need to apply for a Grant of Probate. If they didn’t leave a will, the administrator must apply for Letters of Administration instead.
The executor, administrator, or appointed professional can then begin the process of estate administration.
To settle the affairs of the deceased, they must gather their assets, pay their debts and taxes, and then distribute the remaining inheritance to the beneficiaries.
Probate and administration of estates services in Warrington
Our Warrington solicitors offer expert legal advice and support with a wide range of probate and estate administration matters, including:
- Lasting powers of attorney
- Obtaining Grant of Probate (if there’s a will)
- Obtaining Letters of Administration (if there isn’t a will)
- Administration of estates
- Contested wills
- Intestacy rules
- Inheritance disputes
- Executor disputes
- Court of protection
- Probate estate

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Probate and estate administration FAQs
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To obtain the legal right to deal with someone’s estate (such as their property, money, and possessions) when they die, you typically need to go through probate.
While probate is not always required, it’s more common when the deceased’s estate includes solely-owned property or other assets in just their name or if the total value of the estate exceeds a certain threshold.
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Estate administration refers to the process of an executor, estate administrator, or an appointed professional recording the estate’s assets and debts. This includes any fees, administration expenses, and income that’s been generated during the administration of the estate.
They’ll take care of:
- Obtaining the Grant of Probate (when there is a will)
- Obtaining Letters of Administration (when there isn’t a will)
- Income tax work
- Postal redirection
- Completing Inheritance Tax forms
- Valuing assets
- Cancelling or transferring utilities
- Dealing with shares and investments
- Selling property
- Distributing funds to beneficiaries
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While probate grants an individual the legal right to deal with someone’s assets, estate administration refers to the actual process of settling the deceased’s affairs. Probate isn’t always necessary, but estate administration is mandatory in all cases.
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There’s no singular probate threshold in the UK. Banks and financial organisations have their own rules, but they typically start at estates worth more than £5,000.
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You can expect to spend anywhere between 1%-5% of the estate value plus VAT on a probate solicitor in the UK. That means if an estate is valued at £250,000, they could charge anywhere between £2,500-£12,500 (+VAT).
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Losing someone you love is hard enough and we believe that estate administration shouldn’t make it harder.
However, due to the many legal, financial and administrative steps involved in this process, it can catch people off guard, resulting in overlooked debts and creditors, will misunderstandings, and letting disputes with beneficiaries drag on.
With a full estate administration service, you can avoid these risks, lean on professional help, and dedicate more of your time to what matters – arranging a funeral and honouring your loved one.
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To learn more about our probate and estate administration services in Warrington, get in touch!
Simply call us on 01925 550 076 or email your enquiry to info@fjsolicitors.co.uk.
Our Warrington office is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30am to 17:30pm, except on Bank Holidays.

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