1. Attached to this page is a checklist of the information that we need to begin the administration of the estate. If you supply us with all relevant papers we shall obtain valuations of the assets and collect details of all liabilities.

2. When we have sufficient information we prepare an Inland Revenue Account if necessary (this depends upon several circumstances including the value of the estate and whether the deceased held an interest in Trust Property), and the Oath  which must be sworn by the Executors or proposed Administrators. When these documents are ready we usually ask the persons responsible for administering the estate to come in to discuss the future administration. If Inheritance Tax is payable then we have to decide how to fund the payment.

3. Before submitting  the application for Probate or Letters of Administration the Personal Representatives are required to pay such amount of Inheritance Tax as is attributable to property other than houses or land. Since the deceased’s assets are frozen they are not usually available for this payment and, if necessary, we will arrange a temporary loan through the firm's bank. This loan is repaid when the deceased's assets become available

4. Having paid the Inheritance Tax, we submit the application for Probate or Letters of Administration, and probably receive the Grant three or four weeks later.

5. When the Grant is issued we send copies of it to the various institutions with authorities signed by the Executors or Administrators authorising them to release assets or to transfer them to the Beneficiaries.

6. Immediately upon receipt of closing balances of accounts we repay any Inheritance Tax loan and all debts and funeral expenses.

7. At the beginning of the administration we shall have informed the Inspector of Taxes of the death and will have asked for confirmation that the deceased's income tax affairs are complete up to the end of the previous tax year. We request a tax return for the period to the date of death. The deceased's income tax affairs must be settled before the administration can be completed.

8. Some weeks after the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration has been issued, if the estate is one upon which Inheritance Tax is payable the Capital Taxes Office will begin to ask for further information to supplement the information set out on the Inland Revenue Account. The values on the Inland Revenue Account have to be agreed with the Capital Taxes Office and, in the case of property such as a house or land or an interest in a business, the value may have to be negotiated. The most usual reason for delays in the administration of the estate is difficulty in finalising the Inheritance Tax or Income Tax liability.

9. When sufficient assets are available and all debts have been cleared we ask the Executors to authorise the payment of the legacies given under the Will. It may also be possible to make interim payments on account to the residuary beneficiaries.

10. When the Inheritance Tax and income tax liabilities have been ascertained it will usually be possible to complete the administration of the estate. We prepare Estate Accounts, showing all transactions for approval by the Executors. Once these have been approved we make the final payments to the residuary beneficiaries.

11. When we send out the Estate Accounts we also ask the Executors to approve Marshall and Galpin’s charges in connection with the administration. These charges are calculated in accordance with the Law Society guidelines by reference to the value of the estate and the value of time spent upon the administration. It may be appropriate in some cases to ask the Executors to approve an interim account.