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CLS Direct Information Leaflet 10                              07
                                                        July




Wills and Probate
Dealing with someone’s affairs
when they die




A free and confidential service paid for by legal aid
0845 345 4 345 www.clsdirect.org.uk
When a person dies, someone has to deal with their affairs and decide
what will happen to the things they owned.
This leaflet explains what the law says about how this should happen.


   Why should I make a will?                                                                      3
   What makes a will valid?                                                                       3
   Who can be a witness?                                                                          3
   What does an executor or administrator do?                                                     4
   What is probate?                                                                               4
   Will I have to pay inheritance tax?                                                            6
   Who takes charge if there is no will?                                                          7
   Who gets the estate if there is no will?                                                       9
   What can I do if I think there is something wrong with the will?                              10
   What can I do if I think the will is unfair?                                                  11
   What if there isn’t enough money to pay for the funeral?                                      12
   What if there isn’t enough money to pay the person’s debts?                                   12
   Terms used in wills and probate matters                                                       13




The leaflets in this series give you an outline of your legal rights. They are not a complete
guide to the law, nor do they explain how the law will apply to you or to any specific situation.
The leaflets are regularly updated, but the law may have changed since this was printed, so
information in it may be incorrect or out of date.
If you have a problem, you will need to get more information or personal advice to work out
the best way to solve it. See ‘Further help’ on page 15 for sources of information and advice.
Dealing with someone’s affairs when               ‘mentally capable’ (which means
they die is often distressing. But it can         they fully understand what they are
also seem difficult and confusing.This            doing in writing their will); and
can be made worse by the unusual
                                                  at least 18 years old (though you
words and expressions that are used
                                                  can make a will if you are younger
to describe who does what and the
                                                  and on active military service).
procedures when someone dies.
                                                The will must:
See ‘Terms used in wills and probate
matters’ on page 13 for explanations              have been made without ‘undue
of many of these words.                           influence’ (for example, without a
                                                  threat from someone);
Why should I make a will?
                                                  be in writing;
When you make a will, you can say how
                                                  be signed by the person whose will
your funeral should be dealt with, and
                                                  it is (the ‘will-maker’ or ‘testator’)
what will happen to your possessions
                                                  and by two witnesses, who must all
and assets when you die. If you die
                                                  be together at the signing (see ‘Who
without making a will (called ‘dying
                                                  can be a witness?’ below); and
intestate’), it can be complicated to
work out who will get what.                       be dated when it has been signed.
The Administration of Estates Act 1925          No amendments or additions should
sets out who can apply to deal with             be made after the will has been signed.
your affairs if you die intestate (called
‘administering the estate’) and how             Who can be a witness?
your belongings are to be shared. But
                                                Any person who is over 18 can sign as a
several people may have an equal right
                                                witness. However, the witnesses should
to administer your estate (for example,
                                                not be people who benefit from the
your children).When several people are
                                                will or who are appointed executors
equally entitled to act as administrator,
                                                (or the husband or wife of one of these
the usual rule is ‘first come, first served’.
                                                people). If you witness a will and you
However, without a will, there may be
                                                are named as someone who will
dispute or uncertainty.
                                                benefit from it, you will lose your right
What makes a will valid?                        to that benefit when the person dies.
For a person to make a valid will, they         Special rules apply in certain situations.
must be:                                        For example, if a blind person or


3   Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
someone who can’t read or write wants          value of the estate to the Capital Taxes
    to make a will, you should speak to an         Office. (See ‘Will I have to pay
    adviser to find out more about this.           inheritance tax?’ on page 6.) Even if
    See ‘Further help’ on page 15 for              the executors believe there is no
    details of where you may be able to            inheritance tax to pay, they must
    find an adviser.                               complete a form giving details of the
                                                   assets and certain gifts made by the
    What does an executor or                       person who died.
    administrator do?
                                                   The executors may have to deal with
    The executors are the people                   claims about unfair treatment if a
    appointed in a will to deal with the           relative or someone who is a
    estate of the person who has died.An           dependant of the person who has died
    administrator is the person who deals          thinks that what they have been left in
    with the estate of a person who has            the will isn’t fair, or that they have been
    died intestate (without a will).The            left out unfairly (see ‘What can I do if I
    executor or administrator may both             think the will is unfair?’ on page 11).
    be called a ‘personal representative’.
                                                   If you are an administrator acting
    If a person has died leaving a valid will,     where there is no will and you handle
    the executors can normally arrange             all the matters personally (rather than
    the funeral straight away. However,            using a solicitor), you will be personally
    there may be a delay, depending on             liable (responsible) if you don’t follow
    how the person died.                           the ‘rules of entitlement’ (the rules
                                                   governing who gets what) correctly.
    The executors can also take charge of
                                                   For example, you cannot give more to
    the house and possessions of the
                                                   someone the dead person liked, or
    person who has died unless it passes
                                                   refuse to pay the correct share to
    automatically to a joint owner (for
                                                   someone the dead person disliked,
    example, the person’s living husband
                                                   even if the dead person had discussed
    or wife). But if there is a will, they must
                                                   this before they died.
    follow what it says.
    The executors must then work out               What is probate?
    whether they need to apply for probate.
                                                   Probate (or more specifically ‘probate
    (See ‘What is probate?’ opposite.)
                                                   of the will’) is an official form that gives
    If there is (or could be) inheritance tax      the executors of the will the right to
    to pay, the executors must report the          deal with the assets and property of

4   Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
the dead person.When you show the               banks and building societies have
probate form to a bank, for example,            the right to insist on probate in
they know they are dealing with the             this case).
person who has the right to handle the
                                             However, you will need to apply for
estate, and they will allow you to
                                             probate if the person who died had:
withdraw money from the dead
                                                any bank, building society or
person’s account.
                                                National Savings accounts with
When you apply for probate, you are
                                                more than £5,000 in them;
promising the Probate Court that you
                                                stocks or shares; or
will deal with (‘administer’) the estate
as set out in the will and according to         property or land (unless it is owned
law. If you don’t do this, you will be in       as a joint tenancy and so passes
trouble with the court (and with the            automatically to the other owner).
people who should benefit from the
                                             You may have to apply for probate if
will). Probate makes sure that the
                                             the person had any life insurance or
executors carry out their task properly.
                                             term insurance policies that are paid
When there is no will (or there are no       to the estate. Some kinds of policy say
executors named in the will or the           that they will be paid straight to the
executors have died), the official form      beneficiaries of the policy (rather than
is called ‘letters of administration’.       to the estate), and you do not need
                                             probate for these.
Do I always need to get probate?
                                             You will have to apply for probate if
In some cases, you don’t need to apply
                                             the person who has died gave away
for probate.This is when:
                                             large gifts or sums of money (which,
  the person who has died left very
                                             with the person’s other assets, total
  little (say, belongings and money
                                             more than a certain amount, called the
  amounting to less than £5,000);
                                             ‘nil rate band’) in the seven years
  everything they owned was held in          before they died. If so, inheritance tax
  joint names with someone to whom           must be paid on the amount over the
  their share passes automatically           nil rate band. The amount of the nil
  (normally a husband or wife); or           rate band is reviewed each year – see
                                             ‘Will I have to pay inheritance tax?’ on
  any bank or building society
                                             page 6. Even if these gifts were not
  accounts that the person had
                                             worth more than the nil rate band,
  contain less than £5,000 (though
                                             their value must be added to the

                                                                                            5
                          Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
assets of the dead person, because the         probate registry.The registry can send
    amount of inheritance tax is based on          you information packs.These include
    the value of the estate plus the value         probate application forms and
    of any gifts made in the seven years           information on how to fill them in.
    before they died (excluding certain            You can also talk to registry staff if
    annual allowances).                            you are having difficulty filling in a
                                                   probate application.
    There is an important exception to the
    seven-year limit on gifts: if the person
                                                   Will I have to pay inheritance tax?
    who died gave away their home but
                                                   Whether or not you, as the executor,
    continued to live in it rent-free, its
                                                   have to pay inheritance tax out of the
    value will count towards the assets on
                                                   estate depends on:
    which inheritance tax must be paid,
    regardless of when they gave it away.            how much the property and
                                                     belongings of the dead person
    In most cases where there is no will
                                                     were worth when they died;
    you must apply for ‘letters of
    administration’, which serve the same            the value of any trust from which
    purpose as probate.You apply for a               the dead person benefited;
    grant of letters of administration in
                                                     the value of certain gifts the
    the same way you would apply for
                                                     person made in the seven years
    probate. However, as with probate,
                                                     before they died, or longer if they
    you may not have to apply for letters
                                                     ‘reserved an interest’. (An example
    of administration if the person’s estate
                                                     of reserving an interest would be if
    was not worth very much.
                                                     they gave away their house on the
    How do I apply for probate?                      condition that they were allowed
                                                     to live there free of charge or for
    You may apply in person for probate or
                                                     very low rent until they died.)
    letters of administration, or you may
    instruct a solicitor, who can apply on         If all these add up to more than a certain
    your behalf.You apply to:                      amount (called the ‘nil rate band’), the
                                                   estate has to pay inheritance tax at 40
       the Principal Registry (in London); or
                                                   per cent on the sum of money above
       a district probate registry (in other
                                                   this amount.The amount is reviewed
       cities and many large towns).
                                                   every year. It is £300,000 for the year
    See ‘Further help’ on page 15 for the          April 2007 to March 2008 and will rise
    number to call to find your nearest            to £350,000 by April 2010.


6   Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
Not all gifts made within the seven-         The cost of legal advice will be paid out
year period have to be included in the       of the estate. If you get the calculation
tax calculations.All gifts between           wrong without having taken advice
husbands and wives are exempt from           and you pay the beneficiaries without
tax, as are those between same-sex           paying the right amount of tax, you
partners in a registered civil partnership   may have to pay what is owed out of
(see ‘Same-sex relationships’, opposite).    your own pocket.
You can also make exempt gifts in
                                             The executors or administrators are
other ways, including:
                                             responsible for paying any inheritance
  a single gift of £3,000 each year;         tax that is due out of the assets of the
                                             estate, and it is due six months after
  any number of ‘small gifts’ of under
                                             the end of the month in which the
  £250 each to different people;
                                             person died. Some or all of the
  gifts to charities or political parties;   inheritance tax will have to be paid
                                             before you can obtain probate or
  £5,000 to your child if they are
                                             letters of administration.
  getting married; and
                                             Same-sex relationships
  gifts that can be described as
  ‘normal expenditure’ out of your
                                             Same-sex (gay or lesbian) couples
  income (which means, for
                                             who have registered their relationship
  example, that it would not reduce
                                             as a civil partnership have the same
  your standard of living).
                                             tax advantages as married couples.
If you give away your house but              Similarly, if a civil partnership breaks
continue to live in it without paying a      down, the couple face the same legal
proper rent (called ‘reserving an            problems as a married couple
interest’), the value of the house will      (though a legal separation is called a
have to be included in the inheritance       dissolution rather than a divorce).
tax calculations when you die, even if
                                             Who takes charge if there is no will?
you made the gift more than seven
years before your death.
                                             If you, as next of kin (or someone else
                                             with similar powers), believe that
Inheritance tax is complicated, so you
                                             someone who has died has left a will,
should get specialist legal advice
                                             but no one can find it, you can take
straight away if you are an executor
                                             steps to find out if they made one.
and the Probate Registry tells you that
you may have to pay inheritance tax.


                                                                                            7
                          Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
These can be:                                     with the same mother and father, or
                                                      descendants of the brothers or sisters.
       searching the belongings of the
       person who has died for any                 5. Their half-brothers or half-sisters
       evidence that they made a will (for            (who had either the same mother or
       example, a letter from a solicitor);           the same father) or their descendants.
       phoning or writing to solicitors            6. Their grandparents.
       and banks that the person might
                                                   7. Their uncles and aunts ‘of the whole
       have used;
                                                      blood’ (this means brothers and
       applying to the Principal Probate              sisters of their parents, as long as
       Registry to see if the person who              they had the same mother and father
       died left their will there; and                themselves) or their descendants.
       placing advertisements in                   8. Their uncles and aunts ‘of the half
       newspapers and legal journals.                 blood’ (this means brothers and
                                                      sisters of their parents if they had
    If there is no will, the person’s estate
                                                      only the same mother or father) or
    will be shared out under the ‘rules of
                                                      their descendants.
    intestacy’.These rules set out:
                                                   9. The Crown (the state) if there are no
       who deals with the estate; and
                                                      relatives.
       who benefits from it.
                                                   If several people have an equal right to
    The person who will deal with the              deal with the estate (for example,
    estate is the closest living relative to       brothers and sisters),letters of
    the dead person, chosen in this order:         administration will normally be given to
                                                   the first of these people who applies for it.
    1. The husband, wife or registered civil
       partner of the person who has died          However, there can be a problem when,
       (but not their unmarried or                 for example, the dead person has
       unregistered partners).                     several brothers or sisters who all want
                                                   to be in charge of the funeral or
    2. Their children (aged over 18) or
                                                   administration. If they cannot agree
       their children’s descendants (for
                                                   about this themselves, they must apply
       example, grandchildren, if they are
                                                   to the Probate Court, which will decide
       over 18).
                                                   who will take responsibility.This
    3. The dead person’s parents.                  process is complicated and you would
                                                   probably need help from a solicitor.
    4. The dead person’s brothers or sisters


8   Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
Remember, too, that legal disputes             (for example, the income or
cost a lot of money and take time to           interest if the money is invested,
resolve.The costs will probably be             but not the money itself). The
taken out of the estate, if the court          capital (the original amount)
agrees to this. But otherwise, you risk        passes to their children when the
being left with a large bill.                  surviving husband or wife dies.
                                            The children of the deceased, including
Who gets the estate if there is
                                            illegitimate and adopted children,
no will?
                                            share between them:
Any inheritance tax must be paid.After
                                               half what is left straight away, if
that, all debts (including mortgages
                                               they are 18 or over; and
and other loans) must be repaid ,
                                               the other half when the surviving
whether the dead person has made a
                                               parent dies.
will or not.After that, the
Administration of Estates Act 1925
                                            Stepchildren get nothing (unless they
sets out who gets what in every
                                            are named in a will).If one of the children
situation where there is no will. Some
                                            has already died,leaving children of their
of the more common situations are
                                            own,their share will pass to those
as follows.
                                            children (that is,the grandchildren of the
If there is a husband, wife or civil        person whose estate is being dealt with).
partner, but no other relatives
                                            If there is a husband, wife or civil
                                            partner, and relatives (but no
The husband, wife or registered civil
                                            children)
partner gets everything (but their
unmarried or unregistered partner
                                            The husband or wife gets:
gets nothing).
                                               the ‘personal chattels’ (see ‘Terms
If there is a husband or wife and
                                               used in wills and probate matters’
children
                                               on page 13);
The husband or wife gets:
                                               the first £200,000; and
  the ‘personal chattels’ (see ‘Terms
                                               half what is left.
  used in wills and probate matters’
                                            The parents of the dead person, or, if
  on page 13);
                                            they have died, the brothers and sisters
  the first £125,000; and
                                            or their descendants, share the other
  a life interest in half of what is left   half of what is left.

                                                                                           9
                         Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
(this means brothers and sisters of
     If there are children, but no living
                                                     the parents of the dead person who
     husband, wife or civil partner
                                                     had only the same mother or
     The children share everything equally.
                                                     father), or
     If one of the children has already died,
                                                  7. the Crown (the state).
     leaving children of their own, those
     children will share what their parent        One common area of
     would have inherited if the parent had       misunderstanding is over what
     been alive. If the children are under 18,    happens when a person dies without a
     their share will be looked after by          will, leaving children or brothers and
     personal representatives acting as           sisters, but one of these children or
     trustees until they reach 18.                brothers or sisters has already died,
                                                  leaving children or grandchildren of
     If there is no husband, wife, civil
                                                  their own. In this situation, those
     partner or children
                                                  children or grandchildren will get the
     Everything will pass to the next
                                                  share that their parent would have got,
     available group of relatives, in the
                                                  had they been alive.
     same order as that for applying for
                                                  Similar rules apply so that, for
     letters of administration.This means:
                                                  example, where an uncle has already
     1. the parents of the dead person;
                                                  died leaving children, those children
     2. brothers or sisters of the dead           will get the share the uncle would have
        person who have the same mother           got if he had been alive.
        and father, or their descendants;
                                                  What can I do if I think there is
     3. half-brothers or half-sisters (who
                                                  something wrong with the will?
        had either the same mother or the
                                                  The most common reasons for a will
        same father), or their descendants;
                                                  not being valid are when:
     4. grandparents;
                                                     the person who made the will did
     5. uncles and aunts ‘of the whole
                                                     not get their signature witnessed;
        blood’ (this means brothers and
                                                     the witnesses were not together
        sisters of the parents of the dead
                                                     when the will was signed; or
        person, as long as they had the
        same mother and father                       the person who made the will got
        themselves), or their descendants;           married after making their will.
     6. uncles and aunts ‘of the half blood’      Also, if one of the witnesses is a

10   Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
beneficiary to the will,they lose the right     anything that you specifically mention
to what the will says they should have          in the will as going to your former
(though the rest of the will is still valid).   husband, wife or partner is ignored.
                                                The rest of the will is still valid.
You can lodge a ‘caveat’ at a probate
registry to stop probate or letters of
                                                What can I do if I think the will is
administration being granted if:
                                                unfair?
   you think there is something
                                                If you are unhappy because you have
   wrong with the will; or
                                                been left out of a will altogether or
   someone is applying for letters of           because you have been left without
   administration when they don’t               ‘reasonable financial provision’, you
   have the right.                              may be able to make a claim under the
                                                Inheritance (Provision for Family and
However, you will need specialist legal
                                                Dependants) Act 1975. But you can do
advice if you are in this position.
                                                this only if you are:
Other reasons may make a will invalid,
                                                  the husband, wife or civil partner
including:
                                                  of the person who has died;
   the person was not mentally capable
                                                  the former husband or wife of the
   when they made the will; or
                                                  person who has died, if you have
   they made the will under ‘undue                not remarried or given up your
   influence’ from some other person.             claim when you got divorced;
It is difficult to prove that a will is           a partner who lived with the
invalid.You would normally need                   deceased for at least two years
medical evidence to show a person                 immediately before the death;
was not mentally capable when they
                                                  a child of the person who has died;
made their will, and you would need
                                                  a person who was treated as a
specialist legal help.
                                                  child of the family by the person
If you get married or register a civil
                                                  who has died when they were
partnership, your will automatically
                                                  married (normally, a stepchild); or
becomes invalid, unless you mention
                                                  someone who was totally or partly
your forthcoming marriage or civil
                                                  maintained (supported financially)
partnership in the will.
                                                  by the person who has died.
If you get divorced or dissolve your
                                                If you think you may be able to claim
civil partnership after making a will,

                                                                                            11
                          Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
against the estate because you are in         page 15 for details of how to contact
     one of these groups,you should get legal      them).
     advice.Claiming against an estate is
                                                   What if there isn’t enough money to
     complicated,and there is no guarantee
                                                   pay the person’s debts?
     that a court will agree with your claim.
     The result depends on the circumstances       When someone dies,their debts don’t
     of the case.There are time limits and         die with them.They have to be paid out
     other conditions you need to know             of the person’s estate.
     about.You must lodge your application
                                                   If you are administering an estate, you
     within six months of probate or letters of
                                                   must make sure you have paid all the
     administration being granted.You could
                                                   debts before you pay the beneficiaries.
     face a large bill if the court refuses your
                                                   If you are not sure what the debts are,
     application or does not decide that the
                                                   you need to advertise in the London
     costs should come out of the estate.
                                                   Gazette and a local paper for anyone
                                                   who may have a claim on the estate,
     What if there isn’t enough money to
                                                   and then wait two months before
     pay for the funeral?
                                                   paying the beneficiaries.The London
     By asking a funeral director to conduct
                                                   Gazette is a weekly government
     the funeral,you make a contract
                                                   publication that contains various legal
     agreeing to pay for the funeral.This
                                                   notices (see ‘Further help’ on page 15
     means that,if you are the executor or
                                                   for its phone number).You could
     administrator,you should do this only
                                                   become liable (responsible) for the
     after you have made sure that there is
                                                   debts if you pay the beneficiaries
     enough money in the estate to pay for
                                                   without having cleared all the debts
     the funeral.Otherwise,you should be
                                                   first.You may also have to submit a tax
     willing to pay any part of the bill that
                                                   return for the person who has died.
     won’t be covered by the estate.
                                                   If there is not enough money to pay all
     If you need to arrange a funeral when
                                                   the debts, they must be paid in a
     there is not enough money in the estate
                                                   particular order:
     to pay for it and you are receiving a
                                                   1. the funeral expenses and
     means-tested benefit,you may be
                                                      ‘testamentary’ expenses (those to
     eligible for a Funeral Payment grant from
                                                      do with dealing with the will);
     the Social Fund.For more information
     about this,contact your local Social          2. any debt secured by a mortgage on
     Security Office (see ‘Further help’on            property;


12   Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
3. HM Revenue and Customs;                     parents who were unmarried), but not
                                               their stepchildren (unless they are
4. the Department of Work and
                                               specifically mentioned).
   Pensions, who deal with social
   security (you may have to refund            Common-law spouse This term has
   any over-payment of benefits);              no legal force, although a partner who
                                               lived with the person who died for two
5. unpaid pension contributions or
                                               years before their death might be able
   wages.
                                               to claim a share of the estate.
If all the debts can be paid,but there isn’t
                                               Devise A gift of a house or land.
enough money left to pay everything set
out in the will,the legacies (those where      Demise A lease of a house or flat.
a specific amount is mentioned) will be
                                               Estate All the assets and property of
paid first,and the other people
                                               the person who has died, including all
mentioned will get what is left over.
                                               houses, cars, investments, money and
If there is not enough to pay all the          belongings.
legacies,the people entitled to the
                                               Executor The person appointed in the
legacies will get a proportion of what
                                               will to deal with the estate of a person
they have been left,depending on how
                                               who has died.
much money is available.The other
                                               Inheritance tax The tax that may have
people mentioned in the will,who are
                                               to be paid when the total estate of a
supposed to get the remainder,will
                                               person who has died is more than a
get nothing.
                                               certain amount (currently £300,000).
Terms used in wills and
                                               Intestate Without a will, or a person
probate matters
                                               who dies without having made a will.
Administrator The person who deals
                                               Issue All the descendants of a person
with (administers) the estate of a
                                               (children, grandchildren, great-
person who has died intestate
                                               grandchildren and so on).
(without a will).
                                               Legacy A gift of money (usually a
Bequest A gift of a particular object
                                               specific amount).
(for example, an item of jewellery).
                                               Letters of administration The
Child In will or intestacy matters, the
                                               document issued to the administrators
children of the person who has died
                                               by the Probate Registry to authorise
include adopted children and
                                               them to deal with the estate.
illegitimate children (children born to

                                                                                            13
                          Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
Life interest The right to receive the       Probate registry A court within the
     income or benefit from a property or         Family Division of the High Court
     capital sum (but not the capital sum         which deals with probate and
     itself) for life.                            administration matters.The Principal
                                                  Registry is in London and there are
     Minor A person under 18.
                                                  district registries in other cities and
     Next of kin In will or intestacy             some large towns.
     matters, the person entitled to the
                                                  Real estate (realty) Land and
     estate when a person dies intestate
                                                  buildings owned by a person.
     (without a will).
                                                  Remainder man The person who gets
     Nil rate band The value of an estate
                                                  the property or capital sum after the
     up to which inheritance tax is not
                                                  death of the person holding a ‘life
     payable.
                                                  interest’.
     Personal chattels Personal
                                                  Residue What is left to share out after
     belongings, including jewellery,
                                                  all the debts, inheritance tax and
     furniture, wine, pictures, books and
                                                  specific bequests and legacies have
     cars (but not money, investments,
                                                  been paid.
     property or business assets).
                                                  Specific bequests Particular items
     Personal estate (personalty) All the
                                                  gifted by the will.They may be called
     investments and belongings of a
                                                  ‘specific legacies’.
     person apart from land and buildings.
                                                  Testator A person who makes a will.
     Personal representative A general
                                                  Testatrix is sometimes used to mean a
     term for administrators and executors.
                                                  female will-maker.
     Probate of the will The document
                                                  Will The document in which you say
     issued to executors by the probate
                                                  what will happen to your money and
     registry to authorise them to deal with
                                                  possessions on your death.
     the estate.
     Proving the will Making the
     application for probate to the
     probate registry.




14   Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
Further help                                   The Community Legal Service
Community Legal Service Direct                 The Community Legal Service has been
Provides free information direct to            set up to help you find the right legal
the public on a range of common                information and advice to solve
legal problems.                                your problems.
Call 0845 345 4 345                            You can get help through a national
                                               network of organisations including
If you qualify for legal aid, you can also
                                               Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centres,
get free advice from a specialist legal
                                               many independent advice centres and
adviser about benefits and tax credits,
                                               thousands of high street solicitors. All of
debt, education, employment and
                                               these services meet quality standards set
housing. You can also find a local legal
                                               by the Legal Services Commission. Look
adviser or solicitor.
                                               for the Community Legal Service logo,
                                               shown below.
Click www.clsdirect.org.uk to find
out more.
                                               Many of the organisations offer some
                                               or all of their services for free. If you
Probate registries
                                               cannot afford to pay for advice you may
There are probate registries in cities and
                                               be eligible for financial support through
larger towns. The Probate and Inheritance
                                               the Community Legal Service Fund
Tax Helpline will tell you where your
                                               (Legal Aid). You can order leaflets about
nearest registry is, and can also answer
                                               funding from the LSC Leaflet line on
questions and send you information
                                               0845 3000 343. You can also use a Legal
about applying for probate or letters of
                                               Aid eligibility calculator on the website:
administration.
                                               www.clsdirect.org.uk
phone: 0845 302 0900
There is also a list of probate registries
on the Courts Service website:
www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1163.htm
Social Security
For more information about getting
financial help if the person who died did
not have enough money to pay for their
funeral, contact your local Social Security
office. It is listed in the phone book under
                                               The Legal Services Commission (LSC)
‘Job Centre Plus’. Ask for leaflet SB16.
                                               The Community Legal Service and the
Law Society
                                               Community Legal Service Fund are
phone: 020 7242 1222
                                               managed by the Legal Services
www.lawsociety.org.uk
                                               Commission. To find out more about
The London Gazette                             us visit our website at
phone: 0870 600 5522                           www.legalservices.gov.uk or find the
                                               details for your local Legal Services
www.gazettes-online.co.uk
                                               Commission office in the phone book.
Citizens Advice
Your local Citizens Advice Bureau is listed
in the phone book
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/cabdir.ihtml
The leaflets are also available online at: www.clsdirect.org.uk

   1    Dealing with Debt                               20   Education
   2    Employment                                      21   Immigration and Nationality
   3    Divorce and Separation                          22   Mental Health
   4    Renting and Letting                             23   Alternatives to Court
   5    Buying and Selling Property                     24   Family Mediation
   6    Losing your Home                                25   Veterans
   7    The Human Rights Act                            26   Domestic Violence, Abuse and Harassment
   8    Claiming Asylum                                 27   Living Together and your Rights if
   9    Welfare Benefits                                     you Separate
   10   Wills and Probate                               28   Dealing with Someone Else’s Affairs
   11   Dealing with the Police                         29   Care Proceedings
   12   No-win, No-fee Actions                          30   Neighbourhood and Community Disputes
   13   Problems with Goods and Services                31   Changing your Name
   14   Medical Accidents
                                                        Advice Guides
   15   Equal Opportunities
                                                        G1 A Step-by-Step Guide to
   16   Racial Discrimination
                                                           Choosing a Legal Adviser
   17   Personal Injury
   18   Rights for Disabled People                      G2 A Step-by-Step Guide to Legal Aid
   19   Community Care

   The leaflets are also available in Welsh, Braille and Audio.
   To order any of these leaflets contact the LSC leaflet line on 0845 3000 343
   or email LSCLeaflets@ecgroup.uk.com or fax 020 8867 3225.




This leaflet is published by the Legal Services Commission
(LSC). It was written in association with Paul Elmhirst,
a solicitor specialising in wills and probate.




                                                                            LSC010E

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Legal Advice On Wills

  • 1. CLS Direct Information Leaflet 10 07 July Wills and Probate Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die A free and confidential service paid for by legal aid 0845 345 4 345 www.clsdirect.org.uk
  • 2. When a person dies, someone has to deal with their affairs and decide what will happen to the things they owned. This leaflet explains what the law says about how this should happen. Why should I make a will? 3 What makes a will valid? 3 Who can be a witness? 3 What does an executor or administrator do? 4 What is probate? 4 Will I have to pay inheritance tax? 6 Who takes charge if there is no will? 7 Who gets the estate if there is no will? 9 What can I do if I think there is something wrong with the will? 10 What can I do if I think the will is unfair? 11 What if there isn’t enough money to pay for the funeral? 12 What if there isn’t enough money to pay the person’s debts? 12 Terms used in wills and probate matters 13 The leaflets in this series give you an outline of your legal rights. They are not a complete guide to the law, nor do they explain how the law will apply to you or to any specific situation. The leaflets are regularly updated, but the law may have changed since this was printed, so information in it may be incorrect or out of date. If you have a problem, you will need to get more information or personal advice to work out the best way to solve it. See ‘Further help’ on page 15 for sources of information and advice.
  • 3. Dealing with someone’s affairs when ‘mentally capable’ (which means they die is often distressing. But it can they fully understand what they are also seem difficult and confusing.This doing in writing their will); and can be made worse by the unusual at least 18 years old (though you words and expressions that are used can make a will if you are younger to describe who does what and the and on active military service). procedures when someone dies. The will must: See ‘Terms used in wills and probate matters’ on page 13 for explanations have been made without ‘undue of many of these words. influence’ (for example, without a threat from someone); Why should I make a will? be in writing; When you make a will, you can say how be signed by the person whose will your funeral should be dealt with, and it is (the ‘will-maker’ or ‘testator’) what will happen to your possessions and by two witnesses, who must all and assets when you die. If you die be together at the signing (see ‘Who without making a will (called ‘dying can be a witness?’ below); and intestate’), it can be complicated to work out who will get what. be dated when it has been signed. The Administration of Estates Act 1925 No amendments or additions should sets out who can apply to deal with be made after the will has been signed. your affairs if you die intestate (called ‘administering the estate’) and how Who can be a witness? your belongings are to be shared. But Any person who is over 18 can sign as a several people may have an equal right witness. However, the witnesses should to administer your estate (for example, not be people who benefit from the your children).When several people are will or who are appointed executors equally entitled to act as administrator, (or the husband or wife of one of these the usual rule is ‘first come, first served’. people). If you witness a will and you However, without a will, there may be are named as someone who will dispute or uncertainty. benefit from it, you will lose your right What makes a will valid? to that benefit when the person dies. For a person to make a valid will, they Special rules apply in certain situations. must be: For example, if a blind person or 3 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 4. someone who can’t read or write wants value of the estate to the Capital Taxes to make a will, you should speak to an Office. (See ‘Will I have to pay adviser to find out more about this. inheritance tax?’ on page 6.) Even if See ‘Further help’ on page 15 for the executors believe there is no details of where you may be able to inheritance tax to pay, they must find an adviser. complete a form giving details of the assets and certain gifts made by the What does an executor or person who died. administrator do? The executors may have to deal with The executors are the people claims about unfair treatment if a appointed in a will to deal with the relative or someone who is a estate of the person who has died.An dependant of the person who has died administrator is the person who deals thinks that what they have been left in with the estate of a person who has the will isn’t fair, or that they have been died intestate (without a will).The left out unfairly (see ‘What can I do if I executor or administrator may both think the will is unfair?’ on page 11). be called a ‘personal representative’. If you are an administrator acting If a person has died leaving a valid will, where there is no will and you handle the executors can normally arrange all the matters personally (rather than the funeral straight away. However, using a solicitor), you will be personally there may be a delay, depending on liable (responsible) if you don’t follow how the person died. the ‘rules of entitlement’ (the rules governing who gets what) correctly. The executors can also take charge of For example, you cannot give more to the house and possessions of the someone the dead person liked, or person who has died unless it passes refuse to pay the correct share to automatically to a joint owner (for someone the dead person disliked, example, the person’s living husband even if the dead person had discussed or wife). But if there is a will, they must this before they died. follow what it says. The executors must then work out What is probate? whether they need to apply for probate. Probate (or more specifically ‘probate (See ‘What is probate?’ opposite.) of the will’) is an official form that gives If there is (or could be) inheritance tax the executors of the will the right to to pay, the executors must report the deal with the assets and property of 4 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 5. the dead person.When you show the banks and building societies have probate form to a bank, for example, the right to insist on probate in they know they are dealing with the this case). person who has the right to handle the However, you will need to apply for estate, and they will allow you to probate if the person who died had: withdraw money from the dead any bank, building society or person’s account. National Savings accounts with When you apply for probate, you are more than £5,000 in them; promising the Probate Court that you stocks or shares; or will deal with (‘administer’) the estate as set out in the will and according to property or land (unless it is owned law. If you don’t do this, you will be in as a joint tenancy and so passes trouble with the court (and with the automatically to the other owner). people who should benefit from the You may have to apply for probate if will). Probate makes sure that the the person had any life insurance or executors carry out their task properly. term insurance policies that are paid When there is no will (or there are no to the estate. Some kinds of policy say executors named in the will or the that they will be paid straight to the executors have died), the official form beneficiaries of the policy (rather than is called ‘letters of administration’. to the estate), and you do not need probate for these. Do I always need to get probate? You will have to apply for probate if In some cases, you don’t need to apply the person who has died gave away for probate.This is when: large gifts or sums of money (which, the person who has died left very with the person’s other assets, total little (say, belongings and money more than a certain amount, called the amounting to less than £5,000); ‘nil rate band’) in the seven years everything they owned was held in before they died. If so, inheritance tax joint names with someone to whom must be paid on the amount over the their share passes automatically nil rate band. The amount of the nil (normally a husband or wife); or rate band is reviewed each year – see ‘Will I have to pay inheritance tax?’ on any bank or building society page 6. Even if these gifts were not accounts that the person had worth more than the nil rate band, contain less than £5,000 (though their value must be added to the 5 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 6. assets of the dead person, because the probate registry.The registry can send amount of inheritance tax is based on you information packs.These include the value of the estate plus the value probate application forms and of any gifts made in the seven years information on how to fill them in. before they died (excluding certain You can also talk to registry staff if annual allowances). you are having difficulty filling in a probate application. There is an important exception to the seven-year limit on gifts: if the person Will I have to pay inheritance tax? who died gave away their home but Whether or not you, as the executor, continued to live in it rent-free, its have to pay inheritance tax out of the value will count towards the assets on estate depends on: which inheritance tax must be paid, regardless of when they gave it away. how much the property and belongings of the dead person In most cases where there is no will were worth when they died; you must apply for ‘letters of administration’, which serve the same the value of any trust from which purpose as probate.You apply for a the dead person benefited; grant of letters of administration in the value of certain gifts the the same way you would apply for person made in the seven years probate. However, as with probate, before they died, or longer if they you may not have to apply for letters ‘reserved an interest’. (An example of administration if the person’s estate of reserving an interest would be if was not worth very much. they gave away their house on the How do I apply for probate? condition that they were allowed to live there free of charge or for You may apply in person for probate or very low rent until they died.) letters of administration, or you may instruct a solicitor, who can apply on If all these add up to more than a certain your behalf.You apply to: amount (called the ‘nil rate band’), the estate has to pay inheritance tax at 40 the Principal Registry (in London); or per cent on the sum of money above a district probate registry (in other this amount.The amount is reviewed cities and many large towns). every year. It is £300,000 for the year See ‘Further help’ on page 15 for the April 2007 to March 2008 and will rise number to call to find your nearest to £350,000 by April 2010. 6 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 7. Not all gifts made within the seven- The cost of legal advice will be paid out year period have to be included in the of the estate. If you get the calculation tax calculations.All gifts between wrong without having taken advice husbands and wives are exempt from and you pay the beneficiaries without tax, as are those between same-sex paying the right amount of tax, you partners in a registered civil partnership may have to pay what is owed out of (see ‘Same-sex relationships’, opposite). your own pocket. You can also make exempt gifts in The executors or administrators are other ways, including: responsible for paying any inheritance a single gift of £3,000 each year; tax that is due out of the assets of the estate, and it is due six months after any number of ‘small gifts’ of under the end of the month in which the £250 each to different people; person died. Some or all of the gifts to charities or political parties; inheritance tax will have to be paid before you can obtain probate or £5,000 to your child if they are letters of administration. getting married; and Same-sex relationships gifts that can be described as ‘normal expenditure’ out of your Same-sex (gay or lesbian) couples income (which means, for who have registered their relationship example, that it would not reduce as a civil partnership have the same your standard of living). tax advantages as married couples. If you give away your house but Similarly, if a civil partnership breaks continue to live in it without paying a down, the couple face the same legal proper rent (called ‘reserving an problems as a married couple interest’), the value of the house will (though a legal separation is called a have to be included in the inheritance dissolution rather than a divorce). tax calculations when you die, even if Who takes charge if there is no will? you made the gift more than seven years before your death. If you, as next of kin (or someone else with similar powers), believe that Inheritance tax is complicated, so you someone who has died has left a will, should get specialist legal advice but no one can find it, you can take straight away if you are an executor steps to find out if they made one. and the Probate Registry tells you that you may have to pay inheritance tax. 7 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 8. These can be: with the same mother and father, or descendants of the brothers or sisters. searching the belongings of the person who has died for any 5. Their half-brothers or half-sisters evidence that they made a will (for (who had either the same mother or example, a letter from a solicitor); the same father) or their descendants. phoning or writing to solicitors 6. Their grandparents. and banks that the person might 7. Their uncles and aunts ‘of the whole have used; blood’ (this means brothers and applying to the Principal Probate sisters of their parents, as long as Registry to see if the person who they had the same mother and father died left their will there; and themselves) or their descendants. placing advertisements in 8. Their uncles and aunts ‘of the half newspapers and legal journals. blood’ (this means brothers and sisters of their parents if they had If there is no will, the person’s estate only the same mother or father) or will be shared out under the ‘rules of their descendants. intestacy’.These rules set out: 9. The Crown (the state) if there are no who deals with the estate; and relatives. who benefits from it. If several people have an equal right to The person who will deal with the deal with the estate (for example, estate is the closest living relative to brothers and sisters),letters of the dead person, chosen in this order: administration will normally be given to the first of these people who applies for it. 1. The husband, wife or registered civil partner of the person who has died However, there can be a problem when, (but not their unmarried or for example, the dead person has unregistered partners). several brothers or sisters who all want to be in charge of the funeral or 2. Their children (aged over 18) or administration. If they cannot agree their children’s descendants (for about this themselves, they must apply example, grandchildren, if they are to the Probate Court, which will decide over 18). who will take responsibility.This 3. The dead person’s parents. process is complicated and you would probably need help from a solicitor. 4. The dead person’s brothers or sisters 8 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 9. Remember, too, that legal disputes (for example, the income or cost a lot of money and take time to interest if the money is invested, resolve.The costs will probably be but not the money itself). The taken out of the estate, if the court capital (the original amount) agrees to this. But otherwise, you risk passes to their children when the being left with a large bill. surviving husband or wife dies. The children of the deceased, including Who gets the estate if there is illegitimate and adopted children, no will? share between them: Any inheritance tax must be paid.After half what is left straight away, if that, all debts (including mortgages they are 18 or over; and and other loans) must be repaid , the other half when the surviving whether the dead person has made a parent dies. will or not.After that, the Administration of Estates Act 1925 Stepchildren get nothing (unless they sets out who gets what in every are named in a will).If one of the children situation where there is no will. Some has already died,leaving children of their of the more common situations are own,their share will pass to those as follows. children (that is,the grandchildren of the If there is a husband, wife or civil person whose estate is being dealt with). partner, but no other relatives If there is a husband, wife or civil partner, and relatives (but no The husband, wife or registered civil children) partner gets everything (but their unmarried or unregistered partner The husband or wife gets: gets nothing). the ‘personal chattels’ (see ‘Terms If there is a husband or wife and used in wills and probate matters’ children on page 13); The husband or wife gets: the first £200,000; and the ‘personal chattels’ (see ‘Terms half what is left. used in wills and probate matters’ The parents of the dead person, or, if on page 13); they have died, the brothers and sisters the first £125,000; and or their descendants, share the other a life interest in half of what is left half of what is left. 9 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 10. (this means brothers and sisters of If there are children, but no living the parents of the dead person who husband, wife or civil partner had only the same mother or The children share everything equally. father), or If one of the children has already died, 7. the Crown (the state). leaving children of their own, those children will share what their parent One common area of would have inherited if the parent had misunderstanding is over what been alive. If the children are under 18, happens when a person dies without a their share will be looked after by will, leaving children or brothers and personal representatives acting as sisters, but one of these children or trustees until they reach 18. brothers or sisters has already died, leaving children or grandchildren of If there is no husband, wife, civil their own. In this situation, those partner or children children or grandchildren will get the Everything will pass to the next share that their parent would have got, available group of relatives, in the had they been alive. same order as that for applying for Similar rules apply so that, for letters of administration.This means: example, where an uncle has already 1. the parents of the dead person; died leaving children, those children 2. brothers or sisters of the dead will get the share the uncle would have person who have the same mother got if he had been alive. and father, or their descendants; What can I do if I think there is 3. half-brothers or half-sisters (who something wrong with the will? had either the same mother or the The most common reasons for a will same father), or their descendants; not being valid are when: 4. grandparents; the person who made the will did 5. uncles and aunts ‘of the whole not get their signature witnessed; blood’ (this means brothers and the witnesses were not together sisters of the parents of the dead when the will was signed; or person, as long as they had the same mother and father the person who made the will got themselves), or their descendants; married after making their will. 6. uncles and aunts ‘of the half blood’ Also, if one of the witnesses is a 10 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 11. beneficiary to the will,they lose the right anything that you specifically mention to what the will says they should have in the will as going to your former (though the rest of the will is still valid). husband, wife or partner is ignored. The rest of the will is still valid. You can lodge a ‘caveat’ at a probate registry to stop probate or letters of What can I do if I think the will is administration being granted if: unfair? you think there is something If you are unhappy because you have wrong with the will; or been left out of a will altogether or someone is applying for letters of because you have been left without administration when they don’t ‘reasonable financial provision’, you have the right. may be able to make a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and However, you will need specialist legal Dependants) Act 1975. But you can do advice if you are in this position. this only if you are: Other reasons may make a will invalid, the husband, wife or civil partner including: of the person who has died; the person was not mentally capable the former husband or wife of the when they made the will; or person who has died, if you have they made the will under ‘undue not remarried or given up your influence’ from some other person. claim when you got divorced; It is difficult to prove that a will is a partner who lived with the invalid.You would normally need deceased for at least two years medical evidence to show a person immediately before the death; was not mentally capable when they a child of the person who has died; made their will, and you would need a person who was treated as a specialist legal help. child of the family by the person If you get married or register a civil who has died when they were partnership, your will automatically married (normally, a stepchild); or becomes invalid, unless you mention someone who was totally or partly your forthcoming marriage or civil maintained (supported financially) partnership in the will. by the person who has died. If you get divorced or dissolve your If you think you may be able to claim civil partnership after making a will, 11 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 12. against the estate because you are in page 15 for details of how to contact one of these groups,you should get legal them). advice.Claiming against an estate is What if there isn’t enough money to complicated,and there is no guarantee pay the person’s debts? that a court will agree with your claim. The result depends on the circumstances When someone dies,their debts don’t of the case.There are time limits and die with them.They have to be paid out other conditions you need to know of the person’s estate. about.You must lodge your application If you are administering an estate, you within six months of probate or letters of must make sure you have paid all the administration being granted.You could debts before you pay the beneficiaries. face a large bill if the court refuses your If you are not sure what the debts are, application or does not decide that the you need to advertise in the London costs should come out of the estate. Gazette and a local paper for anyone who may have a claim on the estate, What if there isn’t enough money to and then wait two months before pay for the funeral? paying the beneficiaries.The London By asking a funeral director to conduct Gazette is a weekly government the funeral,you make a contract publication that contains various legal agreeing to pay for the funeral.This notices (see ‘Further help’ on page 15 means that,if you are the executor or for its phone number).You could administrator,you should do this only become liable (responsible) for the after you have made sure that there is debts if you pay the beneficiaries enough money in the estate to pay for without having cleared all the debts the funeral.Otherwise,you should be first.You may also have to submit a tax willing to pay any part of the bill that return for the person who has died. won’t be covered by the estate. If there is not enough money to pay all If you need to arrange a funeral when the debts, they must be paid in a there is not enough money in the estate particular order: to pay for it and you are receiving a 1. the funeral expenses and means-tested benefit,you may be ‘testamentary’ expenses (those to eligible for a Funeral Payment grant from do with dealing with the will); the Social Fund.For more information about this,contact your local Social 2. any debt secured by a mortgage on Security Office (see ‘Further help’on property; 12 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 13. 3. HM Revenue and Customs; parents who were unmarried), but not their stepchildren (unless they are 4. the Department of Work and specifically mentioned). Pensions, who deal with social security (you may have to refund Common-law spouse This term has any over-payment of benefits); no legal force, although a partner who lived with the person who died for two 5. unpaid pension contributions or years before their death might be able wages. to claim a share of the estate. If all the debts can be paid,but there isn’t Devise A gift of a house or land. enough money left to pay everything set out in the will,the legacies (those where Demise A lease of a house or flat. a specific amount is mentioned) will be Estate All the assets and property of paid first,and the other people the person who has died, including all mentioned will get what is left over. houses, cars, investments, money and If there is not enough to pay all the belongings. legacies,the people entitled to the Executor The person appointed in the legacies will get a proportion of what will to deal with the estate of a person they have been left,depending on how who has died. much money is available.The other Inheritance tax The tax that may have people mentioned in the will,who are to be paid when the total estate of a supposed to get the remainder,will person who has died is more than a get nothing. certain amount (currently £300,000). Terms used in wills and Intestate Without a will, or a person probate matters who dies without having made a will. Administrator The person who deals Issue All the descendants of a person with (administers) the estate of a (children, grandchildren, great- person who has died intestate grandchildren and so on). (without a will). Legacy A gift of money (usually a Bequest A gift of a particular object specific amount). (for example, an item of jewellery). Letters of administration The Child In will or intestacy matters, the document issued to the administrators children of the person who has died by the Probate Registry to authorise include adopted children and them to deal with the estate. illegitimate children (children born to 13 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 14. Life interest The right to receive the Probate registry A court within the income or benefit from a property or Family Division of the High Court capital sum (but not the capital sum which deals with probate and itself) for life. administration matters.The Principal Registry is in London and there are Minor A person under 18. district registries in other cities and Next of kin In will or intestacy some large towns. matters, the person entitled to the Real estate (realty) Land and estate when a person dies intestate buildings owned by a person. (without a will). Remainder man The person who gets Nil rate band The value of an estate the property or capital sum after the up to which inheritance tax is not death of the person holding a ‘life payable. interest’. Personal chattels Personal Residue What is left to share out after belongings, including jewellery, all the debts, inheritance tax and furniture, wine, pictures, books and specific bequests and legacies have cars (but not money, investments, been paid. property or business assets). Specific bequests Particular items Personal estate (personalty) All the gifted by the will.They may be called investments and belongings of a ‘specific legacies’. person apart from land and buildings. Testator A person who makes a will. Personal representative A general Testatrix is sometimes used to mean a term for administrators and executors. female will-maker. Probate of the will The document Will The document in which you say issued to executors by the probate what will happen to your money and registry to authorise them to deal with possessions on your death. the estate. Proving the will Making the application for probate to the probate registry. 14 Wills and Probate: Dealing with someone’s affairs when they die
  • 15. Further help The Community Legal Service Community Legal Service Direct The Community Legal Service has been Provides free information direct to set up to help you find the right legal the public on a range of common information and advice to solve legal problems. your problems. Call 0845 345 4 345 You can get help through a national network of organisations including If you qualify for legal aid, you can also Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centres, get free advice from a specialist legal many independent advice centres and adviser about benefits and tax credits, thousands of high street solicitors. All of debt, education, employment and these services meet quality standards set housing. You can also find a local legal by the Legal Services Commission. Look adviser or solicitor. for the Community Legal Service logo, shown below. Click www.clsdirect.org.uk to find out more. Many of the organisations offer some or all of their services for free. If you Probate registries cannot afford to pay for advice you may There are probate registries in cities and be eligible for financial support through larger towns. The Probate and Inheritance the Community Legal Service Fund Tax Helpline will tell you where your (Legal Aid). You can order leaflets about nearest registry is, and can also answer funding from the LSC Leaflet line on questions and send you information 0845 3000 343. You can also use a Legal about applying for probate or letters of Aid eligibility calculator on the website: administration. www.clsdirect.org.uk phone: 0845 302 0900 There is also a list of probate registries on the Courts Service website: www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1163.htm Social Security For more information about getting financial help if the person who died did not have enough money to pay for their funeral, contact your local Social Security office. It is listed in the phone book under The Legal Services Commission (LSC) ‘Job Centre Plus’. Ask for leaflet SB16. The Community Legal Service and the Law Society Community Legal Service Fund are phone: 020 7242 1222 managed by the Legal Services www.lawsociety.org.uk Commission. To find out more about The London Gazette us visit our website at phone: 0870 600 5522 www.legalservices.gov.uk or find the details for your local Legal Services www.gazettes-online.co.uk Commission office in the phone book. Citizens Advice Your local Citizens Advice Bureau is listed in the phone book www.citizensadvice.org.uk/cabdir.ihtml
  • 16. The leaflets are also available online at: www.clsdirect.org.uk 1 Dealing with Debt 20 Education 2 Employment 21 Immigration and Nationality 3 Divorce and Separation 22 Mental Health 4 Renting and Letting 23 Alternatives to Court 5 Buying and Selling Property 24 Family Mediation 6 Losing your Home 25 Veterans 7 The Human Rights Act 26 Domestic Violence, Abuse and Harassment 8 Claiming Asylum 27 Living Together and your Rights if 9 Welfare Benefits you Separate 10 Wills and Probate 28 Dealing with Someone Else’s Affairs 11 Dealing with the Police 29 Care Proceedings 12 No-win, No-fee Actions 30 Neighbourhood and Community Disputes 13 Problems with Goods and Services 31 Changing your Name 14 Medical Accidents Advice Guides 15 Equal Opportunities G1 A Step-by-Step Guide to 16 Racial Discrimination Choosing a Legal Adviser 17 Personal Injury 18 Rights for Disabled People G2 A Step-by-Step Guide to Legal Aid 19 Community Care The leaflets are also available in Welsh, Braille and Audio. To order any of these leaflets contact the LSC leaflet line on 0845 3000 343 or email LSCLeaflets@ecgroup.uk.com or fax 020 8867 3225. This leaflet is published by the Legal Services Commission (LSC). It was written in association with Paul Elmhirst, a solicitor specialising in wills and probate. LSC010E