Seek legal advice 'if deceased's estate is subject to IHT'

Those who are recently bereaved have been given advice on negotiating probate and the benefits of seeking legal advice if inheritance tax (IHT) is due on an estate.

It is possible for people to apply for probate without the help of legal professionals, although not every estate is a simple one and certain areas of the process could be complex and time consuming.

If the deceased person did not have assets that are subject to inheritance tax and was not a property owner, it can be possible for people to negotiate the probate process without assistance.

However, other situations call for the assistance of legal professionals, such as if the will may not be valid or is missing, if it could be contested, if its instructions are unclear, if money or property has been included in a trust or if the deceased had homes abroad.

In addition, Richard Ashton, a partner in the trusts and estates department of a law firm, said that a person’s assets will be handed over to the Treasury if they die without a will, also known as intestate, and their relatives cannot be located, Shropshirelive.com reported.

Published by Hannah Carr