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The probate process

How to Value an Estate for Probate

Valuing the estate accurately is one of the most important parts of the Probate process. The valuation forms the basis of the IHT400 and determines whether Inheritance Tax is due. Errors can cause delays, HMRC queries, or an incorrect tax calculation.

Property

Residential property should be valued at its open market value at the date of death, typically a written estate agent valuation or formal RICS report. HMRC may challenge values that appear inconsistent with market conditions.

Bank accounts and savings

Contact every bank and building society for the balance as at the date of death. Request written confirmation for IHT400 evidence.

Investments and pensions

Contact investment platforms and stockbrokers for date-of-death valuations. For pensions, most death benefits are paid outside the estate, but check with each provider as some types do form part of it.

Personal possessions

Value vehicles, jewellery, antiques, art, and other valuable items. For everyday household contents, a reasonable estimate is generally acceptable. For significant items, a professional valuation provides stronger evidence.

Gifts made before death

Gifts made in the seven years before death may need to be declared to HMRC. YouCanDoProbate captures gift information through the platform walkthrough and handles all calculations automatically.

Deducting liabilities

From the gross estate value, deduct all outstanding debts: mortgages, loans, credit cards, utility bills, and funeral costs. The result is the net estate value on which IHT is assessed.

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Trustpilot five star rating
Made probate very easy

Made probate very easy

DAVID LAMSDALE
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This is an excellent service which is…

This is an excellent service which is very good value for money and lives up to its name – yes, you can do probate yourself if you use this platform. In particular, being able to call up and put your questions to an expert, without having to worry about increasing the cost, is a godsend and I wouldn’t have managed without it (thank you Tom!). The process is still time consuming and it isn’t easy, but this service makes it possible and way more affordable than using a solicitor.

Pete Rawlings
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An excellent service

Really easy to use and an excellent and speedy help line if you have a query. All in all very good value foe money.

Michael Trenerry
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Easy to use. Great service and a saving of £2000!

I HIGHLY recommend the platform for anyone wanting to save solicitors fees and who wants to apply themselves. £325 gives you an easy to use platform that asks questions that are easy to understand. It is intuitive to use and red flags you if there is anything missing. Support is 1st class, sent an email question on a Sunday afternoon and had a reply 2 hours later! YCDP cuts out large parts of the probate forms that do not apply to your own application….My application was straightforward and the actual time i took on the YCDP platform was probably 30 mins. Quotes from solicitors were £2k to £3k JUST to fill out the forms, bear in mind that you have to provide the solicitors with all the details. Brilliant service – Easy to use.

Mike Adkins
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I’ve been more than happy using all I…

I’ve been more than happy using all I can do probate I’m nearing the Finnishing stages of the process and Tom, one of the specialists has been more than helpful. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking to do probate.

Darren cundy
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This was money well spent made life so…

This was money well spent made life so much easier and prevented any time being wasted by not sending all relevant documents and having to re submit.

Mr Walker
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I found the platform very helpful

I found the platform very helpful. I was especially impressed with the help desk capability – very timely and helpful.

Mike
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This made a very difficult time and…

This made a very difficult time and task painless. I had a few queries which were answered very efficiently. The whole process from start to finish and obtaining probate was 6 weeks.

LCc
Trustpilot five star rating
My dad passed away in December and to…

My dad passed away in December and to save money, because his Estate appeared quite straightforward I opted to take on the role of Executor. Everything has been absolutely fine, time consuming but okay however I was concerned about the IHT element and ensuring the calculations were correct for when the Probate application was submitted. I looked online for assistance and came across YouCanDoProbate. Their website and customer reviews convinced myself and my sister that this would be a good option to finalise everything. We had saved a lot of money by not using solicitors so £499 to ensure everything was accurate would be money well spent. The platform is brilliant, it guides you through every element and you cannot move on until it is completed so removes any risk of errors. It takes you through every step required to complete the Probate application and the completed form is ready for you to download, print and send off. Without a doubt the best decision made in managing my Dad’s Estate and money well spent. Highly recommend YouCanDoProbate to anyone undertaking the role of Executorship.

Lisa Unsted
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Easy to do

Easy to do. Help always available. And it costs a lot less than solicitors. Excellent service.

Nick
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Makes everything really simple

Makes everything really simple. Got probate granted in 2 weeks!

Andre
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Worth every penny

Worth every penny! Does what it says on the can! Probate took three weeks and two days to be granted from posting the form. Thousands of pounds saved!!!

Fuzz E Bear
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Additional costs: The probate registry fee of £526 (for all estates over £5,000) and any additional official copies at £2 each. (Payable directly to HM Courts and Tribunals Service by cheque or postal order, enclosed with your application forms).
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© YouCanDoProbate • YouCanDoProbate is a trading name of Kabing Ltd.
YouCanDoProbate is an online platform providing legal forms and information. YouCanDoProbate is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Our online probate and inheritance tax service is an online platform providing probate and inheritance tax forms and information to allow you to complete inheritance tax returns and apply for probate yourself. Our telephone, email and livechat support provides guidance only, we do not provide bespoke advice, including estate planning or tax advice and it is not a substitute for a lawyer’s advice about complex estate planning or tax issues.
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