To apply for probate online might seem simple in principle, but when it comes to actually doing it, things might be a little bit more complicated.
When a loved one passes away, it’s an incredibly difficult time emotionally, and dealing with the estate can cause significant stress on top of dealing with grief.
And that’s true whether your loved one has a lot of assets to value and distribute, or whether they have a straightforward estate.
There’s also inheritance tax (IHT) to factor into a lot of estates, which can be a challenge.
But have no fear – it’s what Probate Solicitors Near Me is here for…
To simplify a confusing process and help you apply for probate online.
To be connected to a specialist solicitor near to where you live, please either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry.
How To Apply For Probate Online
Applying for probate can be broken down into several stages, the first of which is registering the death.
This must be done within five days of the death in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and you’ll then be given a death certificate as confirmation.
After that, the rest of the process will work as follows:
- Step one is to gain a valuation on the estate
- You’ll then file inheritance tax (IHT) forms
- After this, probate applications will be filed
- Then probate fees will be paid
- And finally, IHT will be paid
Applying for probate online can be done via the GOV.UK website, and applications can take around 8 weeks to process.
Crucially, however, you must have an estimation on the value of the estate to find out whether you’ll be liable to pay any IHT on the estate, and if so, how much it will be.
If there is inheritance tax to pay, then you’ll need to wait 20 working days after sending the relevant tax forms to HMRC before you can apply for probate online.
Can You Apply For Probate Online
Yes, absolutely!
You’ll need to be prepared before you do, but the government has a handy portal where you can submit your online probate application.
The most important thing you’ll need to do is get that valuation on the estate sorted…
And before you do, you should know that the current nil-rate band for IHT is £325,000. Inheritance tax is currently taxed at 40% of anything above the £325,000 threshold.
Obtaining the valuation will mean establishing every bank account, pension, investment, and asset that the deceased had.
It’ll mean contacting various institutions to obtain the value of various assets, as well as any liabilities or outstanding monies owed.
You’ll need to get in touch with:
- Banks
- HMRC concerning any outstanding tax
- Pension providers
- Lenders
- Local authorities regarding outstanding council tax
- The Department for Work and Pensions
- Fund managers and investment brokers
There may be other organisations and people you need to contact, but this should give you a good idea of what needs to be done to get an estimate on the value of the estate.
Any properties that are included in the estate will need to be valued, and this should be done by an estate agent or surveyor to ensure accuracy and avoid any potential issues later on.
Applying for a grant of probate is simply seeking confirmation that the executor of the will has the authority to administer the will of the deceased.
That process may be simple or might be a little bit more complicated, but generally, it’ll mean distributing assets to beneficiaries as laid out in their will and tidying up any affairs.
Probate Solicitors Near Me – Contact Us
The good news is that Probate Solicitors Near Me are here to guide you through the entire probate process… no matter how stressful it may seem.
While applying for probate online is possible, that’s not the only part of the process.
And we recognise that it can be a challenging time personally, so having an expert probate solicitor on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly can ease a lot of pressure.
To find a probate solicitor near you, simply click the button below, enter a few details and we will soon connect you with a probate solicitor for FREE.
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Or simply call us now on 0845 1391399.