At Nyland and Beattie, we understand that the loss of a loved one is one of life’s most difficult, upsetting, and stressful times. We also understand that under the current circumstances, dealing with bereavement can be even more challenging.
To give you some extra support, we’ve put together some helpful and practical steps to guide you through the toughest of times.
Our Guide to Dealing with Bereavement
Where to Start?
- One of the first steps you should take after a bereavement is to ensure the death is registered. You can do this in person, and due to current restrictions, you can do this over the telephone and book an appointment with your local Registrar. The formal Death Certificates will then be posted out to you or ready to collect in person.
It is extremely important that you ensure you keep original Death Certificates safe and obtain several copies. Banks, Building Societies, and many entities will require sight of the original Death Certificate. We will be able to provide you with certified copies to assist.
- Once you receive the Death Certificates, you will be formally notified about the Government ‘Tell Us Once’ Service. You should inform bodies such as HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.
- You should check if the Deceased made a Will. You can check their papers, instructions, and some individuals leave funeral instructions within their Wills.
- The next step will be arranging the funeral, you may wish to discuss this with family members and seek professional assistance.
What Next?
The Administration of the Estate can be now be undertaken. You may wish to check if a Grant of Probate is required. The deceased’s assets may require a Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration whereby the deceased did not have a Will) before the assets can be released.
We advise that you contact the institutions to determine if they will require a Grant of Probate to release funds or the assets. Usually, this depends upon the value of the asset in question. If the deceased owned a property in their sole name, you will need a Grant of Probate to transfer or sell the property. Our Wills and Probate team can help you at any stage.
What Is a Grant of Probate?
A Grant of Probate is the final document received once the application and original Will has been submitted to the Probate Registry. The Grant of Probate allows the executors to legally administer and deal with the estate and distribute the assets to the correct beneficiaries.
What are Letters of Administration?
Letters of Administration is similar to a Grant of Probate but this document is provided where the deceased did not leave a Will. Instead of an executor, there will be an administrator. Who acts as the administrator is governed by the intestacy rules. The intestacy rules can be very confusing so please call us if you wish to discuss this in further detail.
How We Can Help
If you’re dealing with bereavement, Nyland and Beattie Solicitors are just a call away. We’re on hand to help if you’d like to discuss the administration of an Estate or you wish to instruct us to act on your behalf as an executor. We can also help if you believe your loved one has left a Will with us. Give us a call today on 0151 424 5656 for expert advice with a sensitive touch.