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Caveat is entered Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 (NCPR 1987), SI 1987/2024 (as amended) Apply for a caveat online or via Form PA8A (see the forms tab within the Probate actions subtopic) — NCPR 1987, SI 1987/2024, r 44(2). The caveator lodges the caveat at the Principal Registry of the Family Division or at a district probate registry by post or electronically — NCPR 1987, SI 1987/2024, r 44. Fee: £3; if submitted electronically, payment must also be electronic — NCPR 1987, SI 1987/2024, r 44. The deceased’s name is recorded in the index of caveats — NCPR 1987, SI 1987/2024, r 44(4). Unless otherwise provided, the caveat endures for six months from the date of entry — NCPR 1987, SI 1987/2024, r 44(3)(a). The index of caveats is checked — NCPR 1987, SI 1987/2024, r 44(4). On receiving an application for a grant at the registry of filing or notice of an application made elsewhere, the district judge or registrar...
This table provides an outline of the procedure where there is a probate claim For additional guidance, consult: Practice and procedure—contentious trusts and estates—overview, and Probate actions (probate claims)—overview. Issue of claim form (CPR): where the Claimant is a child or a protected party, comply with CPR Part 21 regarding the appointment of a litigation friend (CPR 21.1–21.6). The Claimant completes the claim form (Form N2), retaining one copy for filing and further copies for service on each Defendant (CPR 7.2, CPR 57.3). The claim form must set out the nature of the interest of the Claimant and of each Defendant in the deceased’s estate to which the claim relates (CPR 57.7(1)). Particulars of claim can appear within the claim form, or be served separately (CPR 7.4(1)(a)). For a claim seeking revocation of a grant: every person entitled, or asserting entitlement, to administer the deceased’s estate under any unrevoked grant of probate of the Will or letters of administration must be joined...
This Checklist Produced together with both Josephine Howe, partner, and Grace Gao, counsel, at Ogier, this checklist was created...
In Scotland, minor offences are pursued via a summary complaint. The summary process is governed by Part IX of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995...
The flow diagram outlines when an executor might renounce probate, the effects this has on administering the estate, and which other individuals may apply for a grant instead, in their place. It also additionally covers the circumstance in which a proving sole, or sole-surviving, executor dies, and explains how the chain of representation interacts with renunciation by their own executor(s). If one of several appointed executors dies after obtaining a grant, but there remain surviving, proving executors named in that grant, those executors will carry on acting...
In Scotland, minor offences are prosecuted by a summary complaint. The summary procedure is governed by Part IX of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995...
See Q&A: If a last surviving executor dies after probate has been granted, but there are executors who reserved power to apply for a double grant of probate, who will continue the administration of the estate? Under section 7(1) of the Administration of Estates Act 1925 (AEA 1925), the person who is executor to a sole, or to the final surviving, executor of a testator is treated as the testator’s executor. This principle is known as the chain of representation...
In this issue: Spring Statement 2025 Probate UK taxes for Private Client HMRC Manuals updates Tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance Regulatory compliance for Private Client Contentious trusts and estates Art and heritage property, landed estates and farming families International Question of the week Daily and weekly news alerts LexTalk® Private Client: a Lexis+® community New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Latest Q&As Useful information Spring Statement 2025 Spring Statement 2025—key points On Wednesday 26 March 2025, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, presented the government’s Spring Budget. There were no fresh measures for Private Client tax advisers—disappointing for those with clients likely to be affected by the planned reforms to business property relief and agricultural property relief from April 2026. Nor was there any sign of a rethink on the proposal to levy an IHT charge on pensions on death. By contrast,...
the Ali Abdullah Ali Alesayi Will Establishment v Alesayi [2023] EWHC 3150 (Ch) What are the practical implications of this case? This ruling reaffirms the court’s method when assessing whether a party has standing to advance proceedings on behalf of a deceased person’s estate. The distinction between an executor and an administrator The action might have been issued by an executor; however, the claimant was not identified in the Proof of Will, so it could not act as executor. Acting instead as administrator, the claimant needed an English grant of representation to possess the necessary locus to commence the claim. Claims by legal entities treated the same as claims brought by individuals The claimant company had been formed as the ‘parent holding entity’ to receive assets transferred under the deceased’s Proof of Will. The court determined that bringing the claim through a corporate vehicle, rather than a natural person, did not warrant any different treatment when characterising the causes of action pursued. The claimant...
Taxation regime What factors determine tax liability in your jurisdiction (eg domicile, residence or citizenship)? Türkiye’s tax landscape is intricate, operating through numerous laws, regulations, communiqués and subsequent amendments. The key legislative instruments include: Tax Procedure Law No. 213 (10 January 1961) Corporate Tax Law No. 5520 (21 June 2006) Value Added Tax Law No. 3065 (2 November 1984) Stamp Tax Law No. 488 (11 July 1964) Income Tax Law No. 193 (6 January 1961) Broadly, the Turkish Tax System is considered under three headings: (i) income taxes, such as individual income tax and corporate income tax; (ii) taxes on expenditure, including Value Added Tax (VAT), the Banking and Insurance Transactions Tax and Stamp Tax; and (iii) taxes on wealth, for example Property Tax and Inheritance and Gift Tax. For natural persons, residency, ownership of property and citizenship are key in determining which taxes apply in Türkiye. An individual’s tax burden is mainly linked to their earnings,...
There are several routes, both uncontested and contested, to remove a personal representative; below is an outline of each method. Renunciation An executor can disclaim the right to apply for a grant of probate by a signed, witnessed written renunciation filed at the probate registry (see Practice Note: Removal, renunciation and retirement of personal representatives). Renunciation is barred where the executor has already intermeddled with the estate (see Practice Note: Intermeddling in an estate). By contrast, an administrator need not make any statement about intermeddling. A template for administrators’ renunciation appears in Form PA16. If an executor declines to renounce or to extract probate at that stage, the proving executors may obtain probate with power reserved to that executor instead (see Practice Note: The type of grant needed). Passing over–section 116 Senior Courts Act 1981 Under section 116 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (SCA 1981), the court can, in special circumstances, if necessary or expedient, pass over the person otherwise entitled to the grant—even one...
Variation of Will or intestacy after death—Q&As An instrument of variation can be used to alter how a deceased person’s estate is distributed under a Will or on intestacy. It is commonly executed by deed. To secure effectiveness—typically to obtain favourable inheritance tax (IHT) and capital gains tax (CGT) treatment under section 142 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (IHTA 1984) and section 62(6) of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (TCGA 1992)—certain formalities must be met. These include that the deed is in writing, contains the requisite statement applying the statutory provisions, is not made for any extraneous consideration, and is signed by all relevant parties, including the deceased’s personal representatives (PRs) where additional tax would otherwise arise. For guidance on deeds of variation, see Practice Note: Variation of Will or intestacy after death. See also Practice Note: Post-death rearrangements. Compliance with these requirements will usually deliver the intended IHT and CGT position. The formalities for execution of variation should be followed accordingly. Precedent deed of variation...
1 Legal costs 1.1 The legal costs of [ insert brief description of services, eg obtaining a grant of probate and distributing an estate ] consist of [ two OR three ] principal elements: our fees; outlays we pay on your behalf (often referred to as disbursements) [ ; OR . ] [ costs you may need to pay to another party. ] 1.2 Our charges We apply a fixed-fee structure [ of £[ insert price excluding VAT ] OR ranging between £[ insert price excluding VAT ] and £[ insert price excluding VAT ] depending on [ insert description of the factors that will dictate where in the fixed price range your fees will fall, eg the value and complexity of your matter ] ] . [ If a matter or transaction does not reach completion, we reserve the right to charge for the work undertaken, using our standard charging rate of £[ insert rate...
1 Legal costs There are [ two OR three ] key components to the legal costs for [ insert brief description of services, eg obtaining a grant of probate and distributing an estate ]: our fees; expenses we must settle on your behalf (often called disbursements) [ ; OR . ] [ costs that you may have to pay another party. ] Our charges Our hourly rate[s] for [ insert brief description of services ] [ is OR are ] £[ insert single hourly rate or list the rates for different fee earners ]. Typically, this kind of work requires [ insert range of hours ] hours to conclude. Accordingly, the average total of our fees will be £[ insert cost range ]...
[ insert name of beneficiary ] [ insert address of beneficiary ] [ insert date ] The late [ name of deceased ] Dear [ insert name of beneficiary ], Further to my correspondence dated [ date of last letter ], I am pleased to advise that the personal representatives have now obtained the grant of [ probate OR letters of administration ] in respect of [ name of deceased ]’s estate. Please find enclosed a copy of the interim accounts for your reference. Once we are in receipt of all liquidated assets and the final accounts have been approved, we can proceed with the final distributions and bring the estate administration to a close. If you have any queries, please do get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely,...
Background Part 20 exists to ensure counterclaims and other additional claims are handled in the most practical and efficient way (CPR 20). Claim The route for any counterclaim varies according to whether proceedings are under Part 7 or Part 8. A probate claim must be started under the Part 7 procedure (CPR 57.3(b)). For Part 57 purposes, a ‘probate claim’ covers an application for a decree affirming or denying the validity of a purported will (CPR 57.1(2)(a)(iii)). Counterclaim Where a defendant maintains that they have any claim concerning the grant of probate of the deceased person’s Will, they must advance that position by serving a counterclaim (CPR 57.8(1))...
This Q&A assumes that there are no substitute executors. Under the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987, SI 1987/2024, r 31, it sets out that a lawfully constituted attorney for a person entitled to a grant may seek administration for the use and benefit of the donor; any such grant must be restricted until further representation is issued, or otherwise as the registrar or a district judge directs. Hence, while an attorney is permitted to apply for a grant, there is no duty upon them to do so...
Mental incapacity of executor Mental capacity may justify excluding an executor from probate (see Evans v Tyler (1849) 163 ER 1266 at [131] (not reported on LexisNexis®)). The position for a sole executor who is incapacitated is governed by the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 (NCPR 1987), SI 1987/2024, r 35... Under the NCPR 1987, SI 1987/2024, the usual course is for the district judge or the registrar to issue a grant of administration (formerly termed a ‘durante dementia’) for the use and benefit of A, to continue until further representation is granted or otherwise as the district judge or registrar directs. See also NCPR 1987, SI 1987/2024, r 31... Further, r 35(2) of the NCPR 1987, SI 1987/2024, prescribes the order of priority for a grant where the executor lacks mental capacity...