Dealing with bereavement - a practical guide

When someone passes on there are many arrangements and decisions to be made at a most distressing time. We have Solicitors who have many years experience and who are members of STEP who specialise in helping guide Clients through this difficult period and we can assist in registering the death and arranging the funeral and then advising on how to deal with the Will or what will happen if there isn’t a Will.

If the deceased had made a Will there should be a copy amongst his personal papers and we can assist in the process of applying for a Grant of Probate which will enable the Executors to deal with the deceased’s assets in accordance with the terms of the Will.

Inheritance Tax may be payable on the value of the deceased’s Estate.

If there is not a Will the Personal Representative of the deceased must distribute the Estate according to the rules of Intestacy which depend on whether there is a surviving spouse or civil partner and surviving children.

Inheritance Tax planning is not just something which needs to be considered during your lifetime. It is possible to rewrite the terms of the deceased’s Will or Intestacy so that the Estate is distributed in the most tax efficient manner. This has to be done within two years of the death.

Once the immediate consequences of the death have been taken care of the family need to reconsider their own personal financial situation and review or make a Will.

Bereaved spouses ought consider making a Lasting Power of Attorney to appoint one or more people you trust to manage your financial affairs and make welfare decisions for you should you become unable to do so yourself.