Costs and fees
Probate: Do I Need a Solicitor or Lawyer?
This is one of the most common questions people ask when they find themselves dealing with Probate for the first time. The short answer is: for the great majority of estates, no. You do not need a solicitor to apply for Probate in England and Wales.
What is Probate, and who can apply?
Probate is the process of obtaining legal authority to deal with a deceased person’s estate, collecting their assets, paying any debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to the Beneficiaries. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor. The Executor named in the will (or the next of kin where there is no will) can apply directly.
Why do people assume they need a solicitor?
Probate has historically been associated with solicitors. Firms have long marketed their services as a necessary intermediary, and many people at a difficult time simply defer to what feels like the safest option. The reality is that solicitors charge significant fees for a process that is mostly administrative rather than requiring specialist legal qualifications.
When might a solicitor actually be worth it?
- The will is being disputed or there are concerns about its validity
- The estate includes business assets requiring Business Property Relief
- There are complex trust arrangements
- Overseas assets are involved
- There are family disputes about entitlement or the interpretation of the will
- The estate is very large and the IHT position is genuinely complex
These situations describe a minority of estates.
What about most estates?
For the typical estate in England and Wales, a platform like YouCanDoProbate is a far more cost-effective route. The estate information you supply is the same regardless of who completes the forms. A solicitor simply takes what you tell them and translates it into the right paperwork. YouCanDoProbate does the same thing, at a fraction of the cost, with unlimited support from our UK-based team throughout.
What is the risk of doing it yourself?
The main risk of doing Probate entirely alone using only GOV.UK guidance is that the IHT400 and its supplementary schedules are detailed and easy to get wrong. An error can delay your application, prompt HMRC queries, or result in an incorrect tax calculation. YouCanDoProbate removes that risk by performing every calculation and applying every exemption automatically.
The easy and affordable way to apply for probate
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Adam and co were helpfull,sympathetic and very knowleagable .made the process a lot easier . worth the money. thanks
What a brilliant service, a simple money saver. Thoroughly recommended to do Probate yourself. Very well supported by Probate experts on the end of the telephone. I phoned 4 times and nothing was to much trouble. Reasonably simple forms to download and fill in. You can at any point return to the start and edit anything. Even if you make a total hash of it you can start again as many times as you like. It collates all the information you enter into the forms and then when you print it out it is in a recognised format for the HMCTS people. If you are unsure just phone the help line and talk to an expert, if they bare busy they will call you back. I applied for Probate on 29th April, on 12 May I had conformation that Probate had been granted and I would receive my Grant Of Probate paperwork within 10 working days. You cant beat that, well worth the £499.
I cannot say enough by way of thanks to this company. I was helped numerous times either by email or by booking a ‘call back’ and nothing seemed too much trouble. I could not have completed this application for probate without their assistance that’s for sure. What they say is so true – you have to supply a Solicitor with the information they need to complete the application so why not use YouCanDoProbate for a fraction of the Solicitor’s cost and do it yourself! All the information you supply is automatically put onto the application form so no writing involved. A massive thank you to Tom for all your help and patience!
I was very impressed and encouraged with how easy it was to use this service; a welcome change at a time when it is difficult to process the loss of a loved one, and all the legalities that involves, I was given reassurance and confidence that I can, and did do probate. The process was made easier and less stressful knowing I could ask for help as and when I got stuck. Tom was very supportive and encouraging (and patient). The steps ensured that I could check each stage and return at any time to change or amend anything. Also thanks to those who answered the phone and reassured me that my messages would be passed on. A very positive experience and I have already recommended this service to others in a similar position to me. An excellent service. Mary Mc
i recently used you can do probate and found the whole process quite straight forward , its a lot cheaper than engaging probate solicitors and the advice and support you can do probate offer is very good , if you need to book a call for advice you get it same day normally within the hour of booking it
Excellent service… many thanks to James he was very professional and extremely patient with me … this is a very difficult time and I really appreciate the help this service provided. James talked me through stage by stage and let me deal with it at my own pace I would recommend youcandoprobate to everyone .. worth every penny ..solicitors had quoted me £8000 that’s a real big jump in price and at such a vulnerable time .. I am now awaiting for the government to process many thanks James for all your help. Corinne Minords
System was priced sensibly and easy to use
Simple to use the online tools and help to complete my application
We followed all the instructions on how to fill in the appropriate spaces. As it was done at the weekend there was no one to speak to but on Monday when I got in a bit of a muddle Tom talked me through what I had to do. It all worked out fine in the end & I would recommend them to anyone who wanted to tackle Probate themselves.
I can’t believe how incredibly smooth the probate process was with this company! I was on the verge of hiring a solicitor, which would have cost me a small fortune. Every probate case is unique, but in my situation, everything was wrapped up in just 15 days. From the moment I filled out the easy “you-can-do-probate” form, to sending it off to HMRC, I was amazed at how quickly I received the email confirming that probate had been granted. I genuinely can’t recommend this company enough! If I could, I’d give them 10 stars without hesitation!
Very helpful app that is easy and intuitive to use. The one question I needed to ask was answered promptly and helpfully.
After the death of my beloved Father, I didn’t want the costly, frustrating, time consuming process of dealing with solicitors regarding what I thought was a legal process. It is in fact an administrative task which everyone is capable of doing. I decided to go ahead with YCDP and if it was sucessful for me I would share my experience so that everyone could make YCDP their first consideration before speaking to solicitors. The Support team/Tom are 10 out of 10 as they helped me with all my questions right from the start and along the journey. I have never experienced service support of this high standard EVER across any section.
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