Probate forms 'reduce costs of inheritance transfer'

Probate forms may reduce the fees paid during estate administration, as one individual is advised proof of probate is needed for free transfer of assets.

An expert from thisismoney.co.uk reports a man charged by Santander for a transfer of shares into his name following the death of his wife could have avoided the fee if he had provided the appropriate documentation.

The £69.75 levy is to cover the bank if it later emerges the shares should not have been passed to the would-be owner, a situation that could be avoided if probate forms were used to show the widower's rights.

Intestacy has come under the spotlight recently, following research carried out by charity Will Aid showing more than 60 per cent of Britons have not yet made a will.

And of these, 80 per cent with an unmarried long-term partner or civil partnership are intestate, meaning the group is at risk of losing rights to their mate's assets or dependent children.