Losing someone close to you is hard enough without having to untangle the legal and financial side of things at the same time. Yet that's exactly the position most executors and family members find themselves in, often within days of a funeral.

I'm Sarah, and at SHG Law I help people through probate with a calm, steady hand: dealing with the process itself, so you have the space to grieve and look after your family.

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What probate actually involves

In simple terms, probate is the legal process of settling someone's estate after they've died; making sure their assets are gathered in, their debts and any tax are dealt with, and what's left is passed on to the right people, in line with their will (or the rules of intestacy if there wasn't one).

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It can involve things like:

• applying to the court for the legal authority to act (the grant of probate or letters of administration)

• valuing the estate, including property, savings, and personal possessions

• settling any inheritance tax due, and dealing with HMRC

• paying off debts and closing accounts

• interpreting the will where anything is unclear

• distributing what remains to the beneficiaries

 

Even a relatively straightforward estate can throw up more paperwork, and more decisions, than people expect. If anything is contested, or the family dynamics are complicated, it can feel overwhelming on top of everything else you're carrying.

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How I can help

I act for executors and administrators at every stage from the first phone call through to the estate being finalised. That might mean:

• taking the whole process off your hands, so you're not chasing banks, valuers, and HMRC yourself;

• guiding you through your responsibilities as an executor, so you understand what you're signing and why;

• working through inheritance tax carefully, so nothing is missed and nothing is overpaid;

• stepping in early if there's a disagreement between beneficiaries, before it becomes something more serious;

• keeping you updated in plain English, at a pace that works for you.

 

Whether the estate is simple or has more moving parts, property, business interests, assets abroad, or a will that needs interpreting, I'll handle the legal complexity so you can focus on your family.

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Let's talk it through

If you've recently lost someone and aren't sure where to start, get in touch. We can have a straightforward conversation about the estate and what probate will involve for you, with no pressure and no jargon.