Esther Woodhouse

Administering the estate of a deceased loved one can be traumatic and even more so when faced with financial organisations that create obstacles to moving the administration forward. In this blog, Esther Woodhouse reaches out to those having had similar...

It’s good news that the government’s original proposal to introduce a “death tax” has been scrapped, as this would have seen grieving families pay up to £6,000 for probate. However, introducing a flat fee of...

After death, there is often a need for your Personal Representatives to apply to the Probate Registry for a Grant of Representation. The Grant confirms the Personal Representatives’ authority to administer the estate which is needed to collect...

The effects of Covid-19 and the lockdown across the world is certainly not something that any of us could have ever envisaged or expected to happen during our lifetime. The effects are devastating and widespread, impacting the whole world beyond...

As Brexit continues to take centre stage in the headlines and with the recent discontinuation of Parliament, it is not surprising that the Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2018 has been languishing in the House of Commons since April 2019. However,...

Bereavement is an emotive subject and certainly not something any of us likes to talk about but, sadly, it is an inevitable fact of life. When this actually happens to your family or a close friend there is undoubtedly nothing that can fully prepare...

Since 2017, HM Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS) have offered an online service enabling individuals to apply for a grant of probate in a deceased’s estate, providing certain criteria were met. HMCTS have now updated the system, now allowing...

An online service for selected personal applicants of ‘non-complex’ estates has, in fact, been available under a pilot scheme since November 2016. The launch now invites all personal applicants to apply providing certain criteria are met:...