Many people find selling a deceased person’s property a major obstacle in completing probate.  The sale of a deceased person’s property may be essential in order to clear any outstanding debts or Inheritance Tax. However one may not be able to sell a property without paying advance Inheritance Tax!

It is for reason such as this The Probate Bureau set up its own probate property service.  Selling a probate property is no different to selling any other property, but often house clearance, making good the property, arranging Home Information Packs and marketing the property, all take a considerable time to complete.

Our specialist probate property team work closely with the country’s leading Estate Agents to market every property and in doing so receive favourable rates on each property transaction. As part of our probate property service, we offer remedial work to prepare the property for sale. More extensive decoration services are also available should the need arise.  All Home Information Packs are carried out and completed as part of our services.

The Probate Bureau combines the use of professional probate administrators and probate property services to remove the difficult issues and responsibilities from the executors or family relative who is administering the estate.  For example, if the deceased person has two children who are to benefit from the property sale in equal shares, and one of the children is currently living in the property, the siblings would need to reach an agreement about what has to be done about the property.  Unless agreement is reached the person administering the estate has to act to resolve the matter.  In some cases this can be a daunting prospect as the person administering the estate is often a family friend or close relative.  The professional and legal knowledge required in dealing with this type of situation is often best handled by those in the profession.  In most cases, using professional administrators such as The Probate Bureau can work out to be as cost effective as doing it yourself and usually fair less stressful.

For more information on our probate property sales and probate administration sales contact The Probate Bureau on 0800 028 2837.

The Law Society recommends that a Will should be reviewed at least every 4 years or so. At The Probate Bureau we find the majority of people fail to review their Will, which could potentially have a devastating effect on their family and relatives.  The purpose of a Will is to ensure what happens to your property and possessions after your death. Many people do not realise that the effects of moving house, changes in the law, birth of a child or grandchild, even a divorce in the family, can change how the Will is affected.  To find out if your current circumstances could affect your Will, call The Probate Bureau for free advise on 0800 028 2837

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The most direct and simple way to avoid Inheritance Tax is to make gifts while you are still alive.

Each year an individual can give away £3,000 of their assets, which does not count towards your estate for Inheritance Tax.  If you fail to use your full exemption in one year you are able to carry it forward to the following year. You can only carry forward one years exemption.

Another tax exempt way is to make Gifts of up to £250 to any number of different individuals.  You may not provide both types of Gifts to the same person.

Arguments and disputes can be traumatic enough at the best of times. Coming after the death of a loved one they can be soul destroying. Yet sadly too often just when people need the support and comfort of their nearest and dearest, the death of a loved one divides rather than unites.

Often these sad disputes could have been avoided altogether with a little foresight from the deceased and particularly ensuring the drawing up of a properly drafted Will. This is however of little or no consolation to the grieving relative faced with sorting out the mess that has been left behind.

In some instances, no matter what happens a dispute develops between families that usually requires professional mediation if the arguments are to be resolved.

Professional mediation needs a professional team of people to advise and guide families during a dispute. In such situations The Probate Bureau remains totally impartial and uses independent partners to conduct mediation.  If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot resolve a family argument give The Probate Bureau a call.