When a loved one dies, the administering of the estate can feel like an insurmountable task. If there is a Will, it will be the responsibility of the executors to deal with the deceased's estate and our expert Probate solicitors have plenty of experience, and can help take this responsibility off the family and deal with the necessary legal procedures of Probate.

If there isn't a Will, we can still handle the Probate process, but the steps will be a little bit different. When there isn't a Will, those who are responsible for dealing with the estate are called administrators.

Executors or administrators will be required to do a number of tasks, which include:

• Closing down bank accounts

• Selling or transferring assets such as property

• Dealing with legacies

• Settling debts - including funeral expenses

• Sorting out tax issues

A Will is an important legal document that sets out your wishes for what you want to do with, and who will benefit from, your money, assets or possessions when you die. A Will, if executed correctly, is a legal document and will be difficult to challenge.

There are many benefits to making a Will - especially if you have children, property or business. If you make a valid Will, you can:

• Choose who will benefit from your Will

• If your children are minors, nominate who will look after them (if both parents die)

• Potentially reduce your inheritance tax

• Choose who will be the executor of your estate.

Another important thing to consider is making a Lasting Power of Attorney. A Lasting Power of Attorney is a document that allows you to appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf if you should lose the ability to make decisions yourself. Take a look at our Lasting Power of Attorney page for more information.