Dealing with an estate means sorting out the money, property and possessions someone owned after they die. In practice this involves collecting in everything they owned, paying off any debts, and distributing what’s left to the people legally entitled to inherit. Brockbanks Solicitors offers knowledge-led support to help you get everything in order, so you’re not facing it alone.

A Grant of Probate is a legal document that gives a named person the authority to collect in the assets and deal with someone’s estate. In most cases a grant is needed before you can access bank accounts, sell property or distribute the estate. We can obtain the Grant of Probate on your behalf and guide you through what comes next.

When someone dies without a valid will, their estate is shared out according to the rules of intestacy, which set a fixed legal order of who inherits. That order may not reflect what the person would have wanted, and it can make the process more complex. Brockbanks Solicitors can explain who is entitled to inherit and help you handle the estate correctly.

Inheritance Tax, where it is due, is normally paid from the estate before the remaining assets are distributed to those who inherit. Working out whether tax applies and how much can be one of the more daunting parts of dealing with an estate. Our estate and probate solicitors will help you understand what’s involved and make sure it’s handled properly.

Funeral costs are usually met from the deceased person’s estate, and banks will often release funds to cover a funeral bill even before probate is granted. We can advise on how to arrange this so the funeral isn’t held up by the wider administration of the estate. Brockbanks Solicitors is here to make a difficult time a little easier wherever we can.

Our estate and probate solicitors handle everything from applying for probate to settling debts, distributing assets and resolving any disputes, all with empathy and care. We’ll explain the jargon and take the legal pressure off your shoulders while you grieve. To get the support you need, call our Whitehaven office on 08081 965462, request a callback through our website, or book a meeting at any of our offices across Cumbria.