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Need assistance with Probate?
As probate accountants we are here to provide a personalised service to ensure your loved ones are taken care of, while reporting tax liabilities.
Probate Services
Probate
Managing an estate after the loss of a loved one can be a stressful task. As probate accountants we are here to provide a personalised service to ensure your loved ones are taken care of, while reporting tax liabilities.
Estate administration
We work closely with executors to collect necessary information and manage the complete probate application process, including obtaining the Grant of Probate.
Acting as an Executor
If required we can act as executors of the estate. This ensures that the estate is administered efficiently, and your family is supported throughout the process.
Inheritance Tax planning
We are on hand to help plan ahead, ensuring that the tax on the estate is minimised.
Probate Fees
Administration of Oaths
£150.00 + VAT
Other probate services
£215.00 + VAT
per hour plus government and third party disbursement costs
Probate Process and Timeframes
- On average, for simple cases we will try and conclude the estate administration within 6-12 months of being instructed.
- We allow 3-4 months for obtaining the Grant of Representation from the point we are instructed,
- Collecting assets then follows, which can take a further 3-4 months,
- Once this has been done, distribution of the assets normally takes a further 3-4 months.
The above time estimates are for guidance only and vary depending upon the work involved.
Large and / or more complex estates will take longer to conclude as there will likely be Inheritance Tax issues which will require us to liaise with HM Revenue & Customs.
HMRC can take up to 6 months to finalise their own position on an estate, and this increases the time it will take for us to conclude the estate administration.
Where there are one or more properties in an estate that need to be sold, there might be a delay if a buyer is not found quickly.
We require you to respond to our requests for information timeously and in full.
We are required to have Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) that covers all of the work we carry-out. This insurance ensures that you do not lose out financially in the unlikely event that the firm makes a mistake.
Probate Complaints & Redress
- We are committed to providing you with a high-quality service that is both efficient and effective. However, should there be any cause for complaint in relation to any aspect of our service you should take up your concerns with the individual that the complaint relates. Should you wish to make a formal complaint you will need to follow the complaints procedure as detailed.
- All complaints should be made in writing with details of why you are dissatisfied. This can be via electronic means. Where a complaint has been made orally, we will acknowledge in writing our understanding of the complaint for your agreement.
- Complaints should be sent to Robert Couser.
- E-mail: robert.couser@couseraccountants.com
- Post: 162 Kingsquarter, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1AW
- All complaints will be acknowledged within 2 working days of receipt. We will act promptly and investigate in a fair, constructive and honest manner.
- Complaints are investigated by a person of sufficient experience, seniority, and competence who, where possible, was not directly involved in the particular act or omission giving rise to the complaint.
- We agree to investigate any complaint carefully and promptly and do everything reasonable to try and resolve it. We will maintain records of our investigation.
- Within 8 weeks you will receive our final written response to your complaint.
Legal Ombudsman
If after receiving our final written response to your complaint you feel we have not resolved your complaint to your satisfaction or we have failed to provide you with a final written response to your complaint within eight weeks of you submitting your complaint, you can refer your complaint the Legal Ombudsman who will independently look at your complaint. Details on how to make a complaint can be found here: https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
The Legal Ombudsman investigates problems about poor service relating to the provision of legal services by authorised persons. Before accepting a complaint for investigation, the Legal Ombudsman will check that you have tried to resolve your complaint with us first. If you have, then you must take your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman:
- Within six months of receiving a final response to your complaint and
- No more than six years from the date of act/omission; or
- No more than three years from when you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint.
However from the 1st April 2023 you must make your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman no later than:
- One year from the date of the act or omission being complained about; or
- One year from the date when the complainant should have realised that there was cause for complaint.
The Legal Ombudsman will have discretion to accept out of time complaints where it determines that it is “fair and reasonable to do so”.
Legal Ombudsman decision data.
The Legal Ombudsman publishes on its website decision data concerning the action it has taken against law firms in the last twelve months, this information is listed by the name of the firm in alphabetical order and can be found at: Ombudsman decision data. Alternatively, type type “decision data” into the search facility on the website homepage and it will take you to the relevant page.
If you would like more information about the Legal Ombudsman, please contact them:
Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 555 0333 between 9am to 5pm.
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Post: Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6167, Slough, SL1 0EH
Authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry out the reserved legal activities of non-contentious probate and the administration of oaths in England and Wales.
Details of our probate accreditation can be viewed at icaew.com/probate under reference number C008861389
Copyright © 2022 Couser Accountants Limited - All Rights Reserved.
Company Number - 11137602
Company Address - 162 Kingsquarter, Maidenhead, England, SL6 1AW
Company Domain - www.couseraccountants.com