Probate & Estate Administration

When someone close to you dies somebody has to deal with, or administer, their "estate". A person's estate is considered to be made up of the money, property, and any other possessions they had at the time of their death. Administering a person's estate involves collecting any money that is owed, settling any debts due (including outstanding taxes), and distributing the estate amongst the respective beneficiaries. 

Most of the assets (including property) in an estate will remain frozen, until the Probate Registry gives the authority (via a document know as a Grant of Representation) to the individual(s) nominated in your Will, the "Executor(s)". If you have no Will then it is up to the most appropriate member of the family to act on behalf of the estate (called an Administrator).

If there is a Will the estate will pass to the people named in the Will. If there is no Will certain rules known as the Rules of Intestacy will apply.

Whether you are an Executor or Administrator we can provide practical guidance to help you deal with the administration of someone's estate. We can help you determine the size of an estate for probate and inheritance tax purposes. We can prepare an application for the Grant of Representation on your behalf and help you lodge the required forms with the relevant organisations, to collect monies due to the estate, settle any outstanding debts, and make the final distribution.

We can arrange the transfer or sale of any shares, and work with our residential property team, to handle the sale or transfer of any property or land owned by the deceased.