Caution for 56% of bereaved brits avoiding probate fees with diy estate administration

Aug. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Some experts point the blame at the recession for many people now avoiding probate fees, whilst others think that negative press is to blame.

In 2009, The Guardian reported that an alleged £600 million, nearly half of the £1.25bn yearly probate market, was made up from solicitors and banks overcharging for their probate services. BBC's Panorama and Rip Off Britain also gave negative press to the probate industry, as well as reports from The Daily Mail and Which?; statements which were bound to have some effect on public opinion.

A rise in downloadable DIY probate kits on the internet, to handle estate information, has also been blamed for the decline of solicitor probate applications. A word of Caution for DIY estate administrators Probate applications can be complex, time consuming and can cause untold stress, especially when problems arise.

Should you decide to go it alone with DIY estate administration you may find that the probate application process is not as straight-forward as you first thought. Due to various strict deadlines which must be adhered too, if appointed as executor of an estate, you may become liable for unsettled bills, debts, financial losses to the estate and for any mistakes made.  Find out more about diy probate

http://www.iwc-ltd.co.uk/probate-forms__diy-probate.html

The loss of a loved one is stressful enough without the added pressure of a DIY estate administration. For example, if you live overseas or outside the area of the deceased's estate, you may find it difficult to attend a confirmation interview at the probate registry, which is carried out at the nearest location to the deceased.

When you shouldn't go it alone
Under certain circumstances it is imperative that you seek expert help from a professional probate service. These include:
•   Circumstances where there is no will
•   Where inheritance tax is due
•   When there is likely to be a probate dispute or someone to contest the will
•   If there are overseas properties or assets involved
•   If an estate is made up of assets or shares are held in Trust

Probate fees don't have to cost the earth. To ensure that your probate application runs smoothly, ICW Ltd will act on your behalf throughout the whole probate process. For more information on fixed probate fees visit http://www.iwc-ltd.co.uk/probate-forms__probate-fees.html