Letters of Administration
What you need to know about estate administration
Letters of Administration:
what are they and why do we need them?
After the death of a loved one who did not leave a will, it is often necessary to apply for Letters of Administration, a legal document that entrusts a named individual to look after the deceased’s financial affairs and management of their estate. Usually, it is the next of kin that makes the application, but it is the rules of intestacy that will dictate the priority of who can make the actual application and become what is known as the administrator. Therefore, priority being the married or civil partner, the child or children, parents of the person that died, brothers or sisters, grandparents followed by more distant relatives.
Once the probate court selects the administrator, he or she is then provided with the Letters of Administration which affords them the authority to begin handling the estate which includes closing bank accounts, settling debts, selling the property and more.
At a time where things are already overwhelming and the terminology being thrown around is difficult to understand we are here to help. If you are worried about taking on the responsibility or concerned about making mistakes, we can explain all you need to know about the process and help you to move forward.
Our Services
Letters of Administration
Official Court documents appointing an Estate executor where there is no Will, or no valid Will.
Property Services
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) valuations of Estate property for Probate purposes.
Grant of Probate
Obtaining a Grant of Probate is often required to allow the Executor(s) to deal with the Estate assets.
Inheritance Distribution
Executors are responsible for distributing Estate assets and funds once all tax and debt obligations have been met.
Rules of Intestacy
Intestacy is where someone has died without leaving a Will or a valid Will and stipulates how assets are divided.
Why Have a Will?
Without a valid Will, you have little or no control of what will happen to assets that you have following your death.