Probate and estate administration solicitors – Expert support during a difficult time

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When a loved one passes away, the responsibility of settling their estate often feels like the last thing you want to think about while you are still grieving.

You may also be asked to produce “Probate” before you can deal with any of the deceased’s assets.

What is probate?

Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a person who has died. It involves validating the deceased’s last Will (if one exists) and receiving the legal authority to manage and distribute their assets. The goal is to legally transfer the deceased person’s property, money, and possessions to the beneficiaries.

Tailored to your needs – our probate and estate Administration services

We provide a complete, tailored probate service, ensuring the legal and financial requirements of the estate are handled efficiently and accurately.

We will provide dedicated support through every stage of the process. We will guide you through the legal complexities, tax requirements, and administrative duties, ensuring a smooth and accurate conclusion to the estate.

Obtaining the Grant of Representation

We handle the entire application process for the Grant of Representation. This is called a Grant of Probate if there is a valid Will, or a Grant of Letters of Administration if the person died intestate (without a Will). This grant provides the legal authority needed to access and deal with the deceased’s assets.

Estate administration and distribution

We manage all aspects of the estate after the Grant is obtained. This includes registering the grant with third parties, collecting in all assets, settling liabilities, paying final tax bills, and preparing the final Estate Accounts before distributing the balances to the beneficiaries.

Inheritance tax – IHT planning and claims

We will handle the necessary Inheritance Tax Return (even if no tax is due) and ensure all relevant tax exemptions, reliefs, and allowances are correctly claimed. HM Revenue and Customs is under no obligation to alert you if you fail to claim everything due to the estate.

Meet the team

To learn more about our Wills, Trusts, LPA’s and Probate experts visit our ‘Meet the team page’.

Why do you need a specialist probate solicitor?

Acting now ensures you retain control and protect your assets from unnecessary costs and future complications.

You can apply for Probate yourself, if the estate you are dealing with is simple and you are confident with the process and the tax implications.

However, if the estate, involves properties, taxes and debts, a solicitor’s expertise is invaluable for a number of reasons.

Avoiding personal liability – If the estate is insolvent, or if you distribute the estate incorrectly, you can be held personally liable. We advise on the correct procedures and protection available.

Managing complex estates – Solicitor advice is crucial if the estate contains foreign assets, includes a Will Trust, or if the Will itself has defects or is contested.

Protecting the estate value – We ensure all relevant tax exemptions and allowances are claimed, avoiding the payment of unnecessary Inheritance Tax and advising on ways to minimise Capital Gains Tax.

Intestacy guidance – If there is no Will, we advise the family on the strict rules of intestacy to correctly determine who is legally entitled to benefit from the estate.

Why choose HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors for probate?

Every estate is unique, and you need a dedicated expert to ensure the administration process is handled correctly. We are committed to the highest professional standards and compassionate client care.

Accredited experts – As members of STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), we are acknowledged Trust and Estate Practitioners. We also hold the Lexcel accreditation, – the Law Society’s quality mark for excellence in legal practice management and excellence in client care.

Transparent fee structure – We do not charge a percentage value of the estate. We prefer to charge a reasonable fee based on the time spent on the administration, ensuring our costs reflect the actual work done.

Integrated legal services – As a multiservice law firm, our team can also advise you on how your LPA interacts with your Will, your residential property ownership, and any commercial property or business interests you may have.

Compassionate guidance – We understand how difficult it will be for you during this time and will provide clear, supportive explanations throughout any complex legal and tax processes.

Keeping your transactions safe and secure.

Retrieve Your Will or Deeds from our archives

If you need to retrieve a Will, Lasting Power of Attorney, or Deeds from our secure archive, you can find out how to do that on our document retrieval page.

Retrieving a Will, LPA or deeds.

The cost of probate and estate administration

We do not charge a percentage of the estate value. Instead, we aim to provide a clear, detailed cost estimate, typically based on our hourly rates for the time spent administering the estate.

You will be provided with a quote shortly after our initial meeting once we have had the opportunity to review the assets, liabilities, and likely time involved. We can break the cost down into two stages: Obtaining the Grant and Collecting in the Estate and Distributing.

The costs for probate and estate administration

Legal insights – Wills, Trusts, LPA’s and Probate

Most people are aware that a Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can play an important role in protecting their family and affairs. However, there are several common myths about how they work, and those myths do not always align with the legal position in England and Wales. Read our top 12 myths about Wills and LPA’s to ensure you can take the necessary action now to protect yourself, your family and your future.

July 7, 2026

Major changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) now affect how farms, rural estates and family businesses are treated for Inheritance Tax purposes in England. Parmjit Johal, private client solicitor at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors explains what the changes mean and what you need to think about when it comes to estate planning.

June 2, 2026

If a person dies without a valid Will, they are said to have died intestate. That does not mean their assets disappear. It means the law steps in and applies a fixed set of rules to decide who inherits and who is entitled to administer the estate.

April 28, 2026

This March, the Wills, Trusts, and Probate teams at our Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin offices are proud to participate in the Isabel Hospice ‘Make a Will Month’. This initiative offers a unique opportunity to secure your family’s future by writing a professional Will while simultaneously supporting the vital work of Isabel Hospice.

February 26, 2026

As you plan your future home and family, taking a few simple legal steps now can provide peace of mind and ensure you and your family are financially protected. Read our top legal tips for planning your life together.

February 12, 2026

While the term 'Next of Kin' is widely known, its meaning is often misunderstood. Relying on this term alone for legal protection is a common mistake that can leave your family unable to make vital decisions on your behalf.

October 9, 2025

With AI now playing a part in our everyday life, it's natural to wonder if artificial intelligence can carry out important tasks, such as creating a Will. The allure of a quick and ‘free’ Will created by an AI tool might be tempting. However, when it comes to your final wishes and the distribution of your estate, it’s important to proceed with caution.

May 29, 2025

Here at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors we take the security of your personal and financial information seriously.  When you work with us, we are required by law to verify your identity for any transaction between us. To enhance our security and provide a faster and more efficient verification process, we are now working with Thirdfort, an established company that specialises in secure onboarding for law firms in the UK.

February 27, 2025

The Will writers in our Welwyn Garden City office are participating in the Isabel Hospice Make a Will Month, which will run from October 1st to October 31st, 2024. The initiative aims to help local members of the community protect their legacy and the future of their loved ones, while also supporting the vital work of Isabel Hospice.

October 3, 2024

Please be aware and vigilant against scammers. There are several ‘law firm’ scams used by fraudsters. One of these is an inheritance or Will scam. It will start with an email, letter or social media message which claims you are entitled to a large inheritance from a distant relative.

January 31, 2023

What does a day in the life of a private client solicitor look like? Parmjit Johal, private client solicitor at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors provides an insight into a typical day. Parmjit is a Senior Associate Solicitor in the Wills, Trust and Probate Department at...

March 11, 2021

Robert France, Partner and Wills, Trusts and Probate solicitor at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors, talks about some of the ways we can help you begin preparing for your future, today. 1. Write your Will and name your beneficiaries Decide what you want to happen to...

January 12, 2021

The second lockdown in England is expected to be in place until at least Wednesday 2 December. Businesses must close, we must stay at home and households must not mix during this time. Exceptions include; leaving home to go to work, where it is not...

November 10, 2020

Are you putting off, updating or writing your Will? It may be time to finally take care of the life admin that you’ve been meaning to get around to. A key part of this should be to review, update or write a Will and consider...

April 21, 2020

Cohabitation is an increasingly common family arrangement. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were approximately 3.6 million cohabiting-couple families in the UK in 2023, accounting for around 18% of all families. Among these couples many do not have a valid Will. And just...

July 19, 2019

The National Wills Report 2025 showed that just 37% of UK adults have made a Will. This is a concern.  Writing a Will is so important. It is one of the clearest ways to record your wishes, protect loved ones and reduce confusion after death....

April 5, 2019

For many, it’s unclear what they should do to prepare for the welfare of themselves or their relatives as they reach older age. At the same time, they also need to consider how they might legally protect their family inheritance. Robert France, Solicitor Wills, Trusts...

February 1, 2019

Ready to speak to one of our experts?

Contact us today to schedule and appointment and take the first step towards the efficient administration of the estate.

Call us on: 01462 458711

Email us at: info@hrjforemanlaws.co.uk

Or simply fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you promptly.


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    01462 458711

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    01707 887 700

    Old Harlow

    01279 709100

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    HRJ Foreman Laws is a member of the Equity Release Council