Probate and Estate Administration Services for Yorkshire Families

ICAEW Licensed Probate Accountants in Yorkshire

Walter Dawson & Son is licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry out non-contentious probate in England and Wales. This is a reserved legal activity — only firms specifically licensed to provide it can do so. Our probate licence allows us to offer probate services as a genuine alternative to a solicitor, often at lower cost.

Our probate specialists, Richard Hall and Julie Young, are experienced in both obtaining Grant of Probate and the full administration of estates. Their work covers the financial and legal process of dealing with a deceased person’s estate — from the initial application through to the final distribution of assets to beneficiaries.

We understand that dealing with the financial and legal affairs of a loved one is something most people face with no prior experience, at a time when they are already under considerable emotional strain. Our aim is to take as much of the burden as possible from family members and appointed executors, handling the process thoroughly and keeping you informed throughout.

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ICAEW Licensed Probate Accountants in Yorkshire

Dealing with bereavement? We can help take the burden away.

Who We Help

Our probate service is primarily used by:

Family members of deceased clients — where WDS already manages the deceased’s financial and tax affairs, we have a detailed understanding of the estate that makes the probate process more efficient and less costly
Executors named in a will — both family members acting as executors and professional or non-family executors who need expert support to meet their statutory duties
Administrators of intestate estates — where someone has died without a will, an administrator is appointed to deal with the estate. The process is similar to probate but requires Letters of Administration rather than a Grant of Probate
Families where no will exists — we can advise on the intestacy rules and assist with the administration process

We also work with new clients whose family members were not existing WDS clients.

Obtaining Grant of Probate

This service is for executors who have been named in a will and who wish to administer the estate themselves, but need professional assistance to obtain the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration from the Probate Registry. We handle the application process — including valuing the estate, completing the inheritance tax forms and submitting the probate application — and hand the grant to you so you can proceed with administering the estate.

Full administration

This service covers the complete administration of the estate from start to finish — from obtaining the Grant of Probate through to collecting assets, settling liabilities, dealing with all tax matters, preparing estate accounts and distributing the estate to beneficiaries. It is suited to executors who want the entire process handled on their behalf, or where the estate is complex enough to require professional management throughout.

Our Fees

All our probate fees are calculated on a time-spent basis. Unlike some solicitors and banks, we do not charge a percentage of the value of the estate. We find this approach is almost always more cost-effective for our clients, and it means you are not penalised simply because the estate is large.

Our charge-out rates are £145 per hour for probate practitioners and £60 per hour for administrative support. All fees are subject to VAT at the standard rate and exclude any court fees or disbursements, which are recharged at cost.

The total cost depends on the size and complexity of the estate. Complexity is not always determined by value — a modest estate with multiple assets, property in different jurisdictions, or disputed elements can be more time-consuming than a larger but straightforward one. We will give you an estimate of likely costs at the outset based on the information available.

Why Choose WDS for Probate

ICAEW licensed — we are specifically licensed to carry out non-contentious probate as a reserved legal activity, regulated by the ICAEW
Time-based fees, not a percentage — most banks and some solicitors charge a percentage of the estate value. We charge by time, which is almost always more cost-effective
Existing client knowledge — for families of existing WDS clients, we already hold much of the financial information needed. This reduces the time required and the cost to the estate
Tax expertise — as chartered accountants, we handle the inheritance tax calculation and all related tax returns in-house. There is no need to involve a separate tax adviser
Named specialists — Richard Hall and Julie Young handle probate matters. You will deal with experienced practitioners, not be passed between departments
Yorkshire based — our probate service is licensed from our Bradford office. Our team can meet you in person at any of our six Yorkshire offices — Bradford, Elland, Huddersfield, Leyburn, Northallerton and York — for an initial consultation

Do you only work with existing WDS clients?

No. While we primarily work with families of existing WDS clients, we also take on probate work for new clients. Please contact Richard Hall to discuss your requirements. Our probate service is licensed from our Bradford office, and our team can meet you at any of our six Yorkshire offices.

Can WDS help if there is no will?

Yes. Where someone dies without a valid will, their estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy rather than their personal wishes. Letters of Administration are required rather than a Grant of Probate. We assist with intestate estates in the same way as testate estates, including advising on who is entitled to apply for Letters of Administration and how the estate should be distributed.

What is inheritance tax and will it be due on the estate?

Inheritance Tax is charged on the value of an estate above the available nil-rate bands. Not all estates are liable. Smaller estates, those passing entirely to a surviving spouse or civil partner, and those with significant reliefs such as Business Property Relief or Agricultural Property Relief may pay little or no IHT. We calculate the IHT position and prepare the HMRC inheritance tax return as part of the probate process. For current IHT thresholds visit gov.uk/inheritance-tax.

What is the difference between a Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration?

A Grant of Probate is issued where the deceased left a valid will naming executors. Letters of Administration are issued where there is no valid will or where the executors named in the will are unable or unwilling to act. Both documents authorise the holder to deal with the deceased’s assets.

How much does probate cost with WDS?

Our fees are charged on a time-spent basis at £145 per hour for probate practitioners and £60 per hour for administrative support, plus VAT at the standard rate and disbursements at cost. We estimate that obtaining Grant of Probate typically costs between £1,000 and £2,000 plus VAT for a straightforward estate. We do not charge a percentage of the estate value.

Do I need a solicitor for probate, or can an accountant do it?

You do not need a solicitor for non-contentious probate. Walter Dawson & Son is licensed by the ICAEW to carry out non-contentious probate as a reserved legal activity. This means we can provide the full range of probate services as a direct alternative to a solicitor. Solicitors are generally required where probate is contested or involves complex legal disputes.

What is probate?

Probate is the legal process of dealing with a deceased person’s estate. It involves obtaining the legal authority to administer the estate — either a Grant of Probate where there is a valid will, or Letters of Administration where there is not — then valuing the assets and liabilities, paying any inheritance tax due, collecting the assets, settling debts and expenses, and distributing what remains to the beneficiaries.

How long does probate take?

Obtaining a Grant of Probate typically takes between six and twelve months from instruction to grant. Full administration of the estate takes longer, particularly where property needs to be sold, there are multiple beneficiaries, or HMRC requires additional information in relation to the inheritance tax return. We will give you a realistic indication of timescales based on the specifics of the estate.

Regulatory Information

Walter Dawson & Son is licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry out non-contentious probate in England and Wales.

In the unlikely event that we cannot meet our liabilities to you, you may be able to seek a grant from ICAEW’s Probate Compensation Scheme. Generally, applications for a grant must be made to ICAEW within twelve months of the time you become aware, or reasonably ought to have been aware of the loss. Further information about the scheme and the circumstances in which grants may be made is available on ICAEW’s website: www.icaew.com/probate

Complaints

If you would like to talk to us about how we can improve our service to you, or if you are unhappy with the service you are receiving, please let us know by contacting Richard Hall, Head of Legal Practice. We will consider carefully any complaint that you may make about our probate services as soon as we receive it and will do all we can to resolve the issue. We will acknowledge your complaint within five business days of its receipt and endeavour to deal with it within eight weeks. Any complaint should be submitted to us by letter.

If we do not deal with it within this timescale or you are unhappy with our response, you may take the matter up with our professional body, the ICAEW, and the Legal Ombudsman. Complaints to the Legal Ombudsman should be made within six years of the act or omission, or within three years of you becoming aware of the issue, and in either case within six months of our written response to your complaint.

The contact details for the Legal Ombudsman are:

Letter: Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ

Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk

Telephone: 0300 555 0333