Hassle-free help from the UK's best Wills, Trust & Probate solicitors.
Transparent pricing, from start to finishGet the support you need, when you need itTrusted lawyers, clear expectations
Transparent pricing, from start to finishGet the support you need, when you need itTrusted lawyers, clear expectations
Amazing experience
After placing an enquiry, I received a call 20 minutes later, and then 2 hours later, I had a solicitor assigned to me. They were absolutely incredible right from the word go - amazing and very prompt with replies, answering all my questions and keeping the process moving. We finally completed today and I am so unbelievably happy. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Lawhive again in the future if needed.
Lily
First class service
I initially made an online enquiry about a tricky conveyancing matter and received an immediate call back. They understood straight away what was needed and gave me a quote that was very reasonable. It was such a pleasure to find someone who was cheerful, professional and completely reassuring as I’d been getting quite anxious about the sale of my house. The service Lawhive has provided is absolutely first class and I cannot recommend them enough.
Charles
Empathetic, professional and efficient
I am an executor, selling my mother's home. I found the assistance I received from Lawhive first rate - empathetic, professional and efficient.
Mark
Great service from Lawhive
We used Lawhive for our conveyancing needs and our solicitor was very helpful, patient and informative. She helped us with our needs with prompt responses and provided a very efficient service.
Kelvin
Great service when you need clarity and calm
Our solicitor was warm, friendly and provided crystal clear communication. A lot of conveyancers assume customers know everything about the process already, so it was really appreciated to hear each stage included in the price given.
Em
Quick and efficient
We used Lawhive for a transfer of property and conveyancing. Our solicitor was so helpful and thorough with the whole process. He responded quickly and efficiently to any questions or requests that we had and explained some of the more complicated issues regarding the process clearly.
Geri
Fantastic service and experience with Lawhive
I had the pleasure of working with Lawhive doing a transfer of equity on a property. Our solicitor’s service was amazing, she responded quickly to any questions or concerns and kept me updated throughout the process. I can strongly recommend her for any conveyancing work that you may need. Fantastic service all round.
Jane
Amazing experience
After placing an enquiry, I received a call 20 minutes later, and then 2 hours later, I had a solicitor assigned to me. They were absolutely incredible right from the word go - amazing and very prompt with replies, answering all my questions and keeping the process moving. We finally completed today and I am so unbelievably happy. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Lawhive again in the future if needed.
Lily
First class service
I initially made an online enquiry about a tricky conveyancing matter and received an immediate call back. They understood straight away what was needed and gave me a quote that was very reasonable. It was such a pleasure to find someone who was cheerful, professional and completely reassuring as I’d been getting quite anxious about the sale of my house. The service Lawhive has provided is absolutely first class and I cannot recommend them enough.
Charles
Empathetic, professional and efficient
I am an executor, selling my mother's home. I found the assistance I received from Lawhive first rate - empathetic, professional and efficient.
Mark
Great service from Lawhive
We used Lawhive for our conveyancing needs and our solicitor was very helpful, patient and informative. She helped us with our needs with prompt responses and provided a very efficient service.
Kelvin
Great service when you need clarity and calm
Our solicitor was warm, friendly and provided crystal clear communication. A lot of conveyancers assume customers know everything about the process already, so it was really appreciated to hear each stage included in the price given.
Em
Quick and efficient
We used Lawhive for a transfer of property and conveyancing. Our solicitor was so helpful and thorough with the whole process. He responded quickly and efficiently to any questions or requests that we had and explained some of the more complicated issues regarding the process clearly.
Geri
Fantastic service and experience with Lawhive
I had the pleasure of working with Lawhive doing a transfer of equity on a property. Our solicitor’s service was amazing, she responded quickly to any questions or concerns and kept me updated throughout the process. I can strongly recommend her for any conveyancing work that you may need. Fantastic service all round.
Jane
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01 overview
Probate is the legal process of getting court approval to manage a deceased person's estate. Usually, the executor named in the will, or an administrator if there's no will, applies for probate. Once granted, they can start handling the estate affairs.
Applying for probate is usually straightforward, especially for simpler estates. However, it can sometimes get complicated or disputes may arise.
At Lawhive, our network of solicitors who specialise in wills, trusts, and probate can help you through the probate application process. Contact us today for a fixed fee quote and to learn more about how we can assist you.
There's no strict deadline for applying for probate, but it's usually one of the first steps in managing an estate. Without court permission, it's hard to handle the estate properly.
Probate is often needed if the estate is worth over £10,000 or the deceased solely owned a property. However, for smaller estates, probate might not be necessary, especially if most of the assets included in a will are jointly owned.
You can apply for probate if the deceased lived mainly in England or Wales, had a will, and you’re the executor or next of kin according to the rules of intestacy.
To make a probate application, you’ll need the original will, death certificate, and information about the estate’s value. If inheritance tax is due, you must wait 20 days after submitting the tax forms before applying.
After completing the online form to apply for probate, you’ll need to send the original will and supporting documents to the HMCTS Probate Office using a tracked postal service. Alternatively, you can apply by paper form, including the probate application form, original will, completed inheritance tax forms, the application fee, and any other supporting documents.
When there is no will technically you won’t apply for probate, you will instead have to apply for a grant of letters of administration. Letters of administration are public documents which means that anyone can see them.
The probate application process is largely the same as applying for a grant of probate.
If you're unsure about the validity of a will or suspect there may not be one, you can stop someone else from applying for probate for six months. This is called applying for a caveat.
To apply for a caveat, you need to be at least 18 years old. You can apply online or visit a probate registry, and it costs £3.
The application fee for a grant of probate is £273 if the estate is valued at more than £5,000. For estates valued below £5,000, it costs £1.50 for each additional copy of the probate document requested. Ordering multiple copies helps speed up the application process by providing them to various institutions involved in probate.
The cost for a licensed solicitor to assist with a probate application varies based on factors like complexity and specific case requirements. On average, it ranges from £375 to £500, but in some instances, it could be as much as £525.
After you have applied for probate, it can take up to 16 weeks to receive your probate document. You must wait until you have received this before administering the estate.
Once your application has been approved and you have been appointed as administrator of the estate or personal representative you will need to:
At Lawhive our network of probate solicitors can help you navigate the probate process.
To get started, contact us today for a free case evaluation and fixed-fee quote.
With straightforward pricing - so you know exactly what to expect at every step.
