Probate

Firstly, if you are reading this the chances are that you have recently lost a loved one. Lakes Legal Limited would like to offer their sincere condolences for your loss. Dealing with a bereavement is one of the most difficult times in anyone life and Lakes Legal Limited would like to offer their assistance in whatever measure wherever possible.

Probate is the term given to dealing with or administrating the estate of a deceased person. Whether a loved one has left a will or not will have an impact upon the process of the administration of their estate. All deceased persons need someone to finalize their estates to ensure, amongst other things, that their funeral is arranged and paid for, their debts have been repaid and monies owed to them reclaimed, their assets have been distributed amongst those entitled to benefit and generally to ensure that their assets and financial affairs are managed correctly following their death.

A core concept of the Lakes Legal Limited manifesto is to help our clients to help themselves. We prefer to empower our clients and help them to manage their own legal affairs. To fulfil this role we have prepared two guides to help those of you who would like to administer the estates of your love ones.

The first guide is designed to help those of you administering the estate of a person who did not leave a will. Death Without a Will: Guidance to help those who administer the estate

The second guide is designed to help those of you administering the estate of a person who died leaving a will specifying their instructions. Death With a Will: Guidance to help those who administer the estate

Lakes Legal Limited know however that sometimes the administration of a loved ones estate can be overwhelming. The emotional impact of the death can be difficult enough without the added complexities of completing a tax return! Additionally not everyone has the time or inclination to conduct such an intricate legal process. For those clients who need a little (or a lot) of help Lakes Legal Limited offer a comprehensive probate administration service.

The cost of appointing Lakes Legal Limited to this role will depend upon the size and complexity of the deceaseds estate but Lakes Legal Limited will arrange a fixed fee for all matters which they are instructed upon. This fee will be agreed with the client before Lakes Legal Limited commence any work meaning there will be no surprises along the way.

In addition to our probate services we also offer the below fixed fee arrangements to help those clients who have done most of the administration themselves but need a little reassurance with the more complicated issues.

Completion of the Inheritance Tax Return where there is No tax to pay- £100.00 Fixed Fee

Completion of the Inheritance Tax Return where there is tax to pay- £200.00 Fixed Fee

Completion of the Income Tax Return- £100.00 Fixed Fee

Completion of the Estate Accounts- £250.00 Fixed Fee