What is Grant of Probate?
Probate is the legal document, issued by the Probate Office, confirming that the person named thereon has the power to act in the process of winding up the deceased’s affairs. If there is a will, and you are the executor, and the Probate Office is sure you are the person authorised to wind up a deceased person’s estate they will issue ‘Grant of Probate’. If there is no will, or the will is rejected by the Probate Office, the next of kin applies to the Probate Office for ‘Letters of Administration’. Like the ‘Grant of Probate’ these authorise the person named thereon to wind up the deceased person’s affairs. If you, as an executor or administrator, fail to distribute an estate correctly you are in breach of trust, and personally liable for the mistake. So it is important that everything is done correctly, with all i’s dotted and t’s crossed. It is usually quicker, easier, and less costly if the deceased made a Will, drafted by a professional. A DIY made will often creates more problems
