State Tax Estate

Letters of Administration are granted by a Surrogate Court or probate registry to appoint appropriate people to deal with a deceased person's estate where property will pass under Intestacy Rules or where there are no executors living (and willing and able to act) having been validly appointed under the deceased's will

Give the letter a personal touch and address each of your heirs and beneficiaries personally. Tell them any last wishes you may have or any hopes you have for their future. Write as clearly as possible. Use specific details and avoid using shorthand.

Keep the letter brief and straightforward as it is a legal document. Confirm the situation whereby probate has been granted. Was it written in the will? Clearly outline the obligations of the recipient so they know what is required of them. Sign the letter to make it legally binding.

To apply for probate or letters of administration by post, you'll need to fill in a number of forms. You'll need PA1P if the person left a will and PA1A if they didn't. These forms ask for details about the person who died, their surviving relatives and, the personal representative.

Probate or applying for Letters Probate is the process whereby the Court confirms that a Will is the valid last Will of a person. When the executor files for a grant of probate, he swears that the Will filed with the court is the last Will of the deceased person and that he knows of no later Will.

Identify persons the executor should notify of your death. Include family members, close friends and business associates, including your attorney. Provide contact information for each person, as well as any final message or instructions to be given. Describe your important estate documents and their exact location.

Application fees for probate are £155 if you apply through a solicitor and A£215 if you're taking the DIY option. Estates worth less than A£5,000 pay no fee. Additional copies of the probate form can be ordered for A£1.50 each.

A grant of probate is issued to the executor/s named in the will, whereas a grant of letters of administration is issued to the next of kin of someone who died without a will.This document will allow whoever is dealing with the estate to close bank accounts, cash in investments and sell or transfer property.

Keep the letter brief and straightforward as it is a legal document. Confirm the situation whereby probate has been granted. Was it written in the will? Clearly outline the obligations of the recipient so they know what is required of them. Sign the letter to make it legally binding.