Our Services
Valuing assets and paying debts
Over a lifetime, everyone accumulates assets and debts. As part of the estate administration process, everything has to be dealt with. OPEA will handle everything on your behalf so that you have complete peace of mind.
Legal and tax
From applying for the Grant of Probate to dealing with Inheritance Tax, estate administration involves a significant amount of legal and tax work. Our team of experts manage all of this work on your behalf. Quickly and efficiently.
We’ll protect your family
Estate administration can be complex. That’s why we take on full responsibility so that you don’t have to worry. We’ll take care of everything on your behalf.
Dealing with property
The family home can be the most valuable part of an estate, financially and emotionally. To help deal with this crucial part of the estate administration, we work to be able to help you achieve the best price, quickly, and to manage the legal requirements of selling or transferring a property.
All the paperwork
OPEA will deal with all of the paperwork and make the necessary calls, so you don’t have to. This includes dealing with HMRC, liaising with utility providers, resolving pension enquiries and more. All of these tasks are an additional burden at a difficult time.
Paying inheritance quickly
You’ll want us to deal with the estate and distribute the assets as soon as possible. That’s why we try to make initial payments to beneficiaries quickly, and at regular intervals. You and your family will receive your entitlement as soon as possible.
Optimum Probate & Estate Administration also offer the following services:
- Research and assess the value of the deceased’s Estate
- Prepare Inheritance tax accounts
- Deal with income and Capital gains tax liabilities of the Estate
- Gather assets and pay creditors
- Advise beneficiaries and executors of the tax implications with selling any assets
- Prepare tax returns for personal representatives
- Provide final Estate accounts
- Storage and safekeeping of Wills
- Lasting Power of Attorney
OPEA packages
Grant Only
Grant and assets
Includes collecting in and distributing up to four assets, or transferring them to up to two beneficiaries. An asset does not include property.
£1,350 including VAT excluding Probate Fee
Grant, Trust and Property Solutions
- Grant and transfer of property
- Grant and Trust of property
- Grant and Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trust
Each option has a fee of £1,850 including VAT excluding Probate Fee
Full Estate Administration
From £2,100 excluding VAT and the Probate Fee
Grant only service
Fee of £850 including VAT excluding the Probate fee
What is this?
We can obtain the Grant of Probate on behalf of the named Executor, if there is a Will or Administrator, if there is no Will. This allows the Executor and Administrator to collect in funds, pay any outstanding debts and then distribute and/or transfer the assets to the beneficiaries.
OPEA will:
- Ask the Executor or Administrator to complete a Fact Find, which will ask for key information about the deceased’s assets and debts at the date of death.
- Use the Fact Find to prepare the paperwork for the Probate Registry and HMRC (as this is always required) for signature.
- Submit the application to the Probate Registry.
- Upon receipt of the Grant of Probate, we will send this to the Executor or Administrator to allow them to complete the process.
Grant and assets service
Fee of £1,350 including VAT excluding the Probate fee
What is this?
We can obtain the Grant of Probate on behalf of the named Executor, if there is a Will or Administrator, if there is no Will. This allows the Executor or Administrator to collect in funds, pay any outstanding debts and then distribute and/or transfer the assets to the beneficiaries.
There may be some assets that remain in the sole name of the deceased. If there are no more than four assets, we can collect in and pay, or transfer the assets to a maximum of two beneficiaries. This does not include property.
OPEA will:
- Ask the Executor or Administrator to complete a Fact Find, which will ask for key information about the deceased’s assets and debts at the date of death.
- Use the Fact Find to prepare the paperwork for the Probate Registry and HMRC (as this is always required) for signature.
- Submit the application to the Probate Registry.
- Upon receipt of the Grant of Probate, we will collect in the assets for distribution, or transfer them to the beneficiaries depending on the instruction of the Executor or Administrator.
- We will then send you the Grant of Probate to complete the process and pay any debts, if required
Choose from one of our three Grant, Trust and property solutions
- Grant and transfer of property
- Grant and Trust of property
- Grant and Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trust
Each option has a fee of £1,850 including VAT excluding the Probate fee
What is this?
We can obtain the Grant of Probate on behalf of the named Executor, if there is a Will or Administrator, if there is no Will. This allows the Executor or Administrator to collect in funds, pay any outstanding debts and then distribute and/or transfer the assets to the beneficiaries.
If the deceased’s Will contains a Trust of Property or a Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trust, these type of Trust need formalising to protect the interests of the ultimate beneficiaries. If the deceased solely owned property and this is to be transferred to beneficiaries, we can assist by preparing the paperwork
OPEA will:
- Ask the Executor or Administrator to complete a Fact Find, which will ask for key information about the deceased’s assets and debts at the date of death.
- Use the Fact Find to prepare the paperwork for the Probate Registry and HMRC (as this is always required) for signature.
- Submit the application to the Probate Registry and once received, send the Grant of Probate to the Executor to complete the process.
- Where the deceased’s solely owned property is to be transferred to the beneficiary(s), we will prepare the paperwork. Where a Declaration of Trust is required or if the property remains unregistered, we will prepare the Declaration of Trust to confirm ownership of the property and register the property with the Land Registry.
- Where there is a property Trust, we will liaise with the appointed Trustees in the Will about the terms of the Trust. We will transfer the deceased’s share of the property into the names of the Trustees at the Land Registry. We will also prepare a Declaration of Trust; this document confirms the ownership of the property.
- Where there is a Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trust, we will advise the Trustees of the options available to them to deal with the Trust and prepare the necessary paperwork to effect their instructions.
Full estate administration
Fee from £2,100 excluding VAT and the Probate fee
What is this?
We can complete the full estate administration after being appointed by the named Executor or Administrator. This allows the Executor or Administrator to relinquish all legal and financial responsibility, removing the stress and hassle off their shoulders.
OPEA will:
- Contact utility companies
- Value the assets and liabilities
- Obtain property valuation and sale (if applicable)
- Contents valuation (if applicable)
- Postal redirection (if applicable)
- Apply for the Grant of probate (Confirmation in Scotland)
- Complete the relevant Inheritance Tax forms and supporting forms where necessary
- Ensure the Inheritance Tax is paid within the HMRC guidelines
- Complete Income Tax work for the year of death
- Review the estate for Capital Gains Tax
- Set up any Trusts that may be in the Will
- Selling or transferring shares
- Register unregistered properties
- Settle all debts and administration expenses
- Distribute funds to surviving spouse of civil partner and obtain confirmation of funds received
- Produce estate accounts
Additional fees
Transfer NRB allowance from first death – £150
Deed of Variation £175 – £700
To transfer the residence NRB allowance £150
Will search £125
IHT 400 complex tax return £400
Affidavit From £175
We price our full estate administration with a transparent, upfront, fixed fee.
The fee is payable from the estate later in the process. Our Client Services Team are the first point of contact to gaining a fixed price quote.