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| SOLICITORS ESTATE AGENTS NOTARIES |
| WOOD & MUIR 2 CHURCH STREET, EYEMOUTH, BERWICKSHIRE,. TD14 5DH TEL : 018907 50218 FAX : 018907 51283 EMAIL : info@woodandmuir.com |
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When someone dies, dealing with all the paperwork can seem a formidable task – tackling the bills, statements and
correspondence alone, without considering the terms of the deceased’s Will and transferring their assets. We can
assist you with all aspects of the administration of an estate, aiming to reduct the burden on family and friends and
assisting the executor to settle the estate efficiently and with the minimum amount of fuss.
When someone dies, the death must be registered and the funeral arrangements made. Sometimes a Will contains
funeral instructions, so it is worth phoning the deceased’s solicitor to find out. We can also help with these
formalities if needed.
If calling in to see us to begin the administration of an estate, it is useful if you bring the death certificate, personal
papers, bank statements, share certificates, title deeds, and any other documents which you think might be
important. If you wish, we can deal with phone bills, council tax, utility bills, insurance, and so on – we can help to
ease the burden and worry if there is an empty house, and deal with day to day practicalities. We can deal with
valuing house contents and having the house cleared if necessary.
correspondence alone, without considering the terms of the deceased’s Will and transferring their assets. We can
assist you with all aspects of the administration of an estate, aiming to reduct the burden on family and friends and
assisting the executor to settle the estate efficiently and with the minimum amount of fuss.
When someone dies, the death must be registered and the funeral arrangements made. Sometimes a Will contains
funeral instructions, so it is worth phoning the deceased’s solicitor to find out. We can also help with these
formalities if needed.
If calling in to see us to begin the administration of an estate, it is useful if you bring the death certificate, personal
papers, bank statements, share certificates, title deeds, and any other documents which you think might be
important. If you wish, we can deal with phone bills, council tax, utility bills, insurance, and so on – we can help to
ease the burden and worry if there is an empty house, and deal with day to day practicalities. We can deal with
valuing house contents and having the house cleared if necessary.
We will collect information to prepare a full inventory of the deceased’s assets and liabilities, calculated to the date of their
death. This will involve contacting their bank, building society, etc. We then use this information to calculate whether any
Inheritance Tax is payable. This has to be paid before Confirmation (known as Probate in England) can be obtained.
We then lodge an application for Confirmation with the Sheriff Clerk, and the application is usually granted within two weeks.
When Confirmation is granted, this gives the Executors the legal authority to deal with the estate and to distribute it
according to the terms of the Will. We then transfer the assets according to the Executor’s instructions. If there is a house to
be sold, we can assist with both the estate agency and conveyancing if required.
Throughout the administration of the estate we will keep records and accounts, and will submit a draft account to the
Executor for approval before the estate in fully and finally distributed to the beneficiaries.
If the deceased left no Will, then there are some additional steps to carry out before applying for Confirmation, and we can
help you with these. If there is no Will, Scots law sets out a division of estate - the results of this can be unusual, so we
recommend that everyone makes a Will during their lifetime.
death. This will involve contacting their bank, building society, etc. We then use this information to calculate whether any
Inheritance Tax is payable. This has to be paid before Confirmation (known as Probate in England) can be obtained.
We then lodge an application for Confirmation with the Sheriff Clerk, and the application is usually granted within two weeks.
When Confirmation is granted, this gives the Executors the legal authority to deal with the estate and to distribute it
according to the terms of the Will. We then transfer the assets according to the Executor’s instructions. If there is a house to
be sold, we can assist with both the estate agency and conveyancing if required.
Throughout the administration of the estate we will keep records and accounts, and will submit a draft account to the
Executor for approval before the estate in fully and finally distributed to the beneficiaries.
If the deceased left no Will, then there are some additional steps to carry out before applying for Confirmation, and we can
help you with these. If there is no Will, Scots law sets out a division of estate - the results of this can be unusual, so we
recommend that everyone makes a Will during their lifetime.