Member talk: estate planning and administration

This series of bitesize videos, exclusive to Private Client Solicitors Section members, is delivered by experts to support you in giving the best possible legal advice to vulnerable and elderly clients.

Information gathering

Understand what the common key documents are and what information is needed to administer the estate.

Our speakers share with us what they think are most important initial steps when it comes to information gathering for estate administration.

They consider what information is needed where there is and isn’t a will.

Hear top tips on identifying if an estate may be open to any disputes and claims, and best practices in terms of communicating with family members and beneficiaries to keep them informed throughout the process.

Speakers include:

• Sarah Robinson, senior knowledge lawyer at Penningtons Manches Cooper and Private Client Solicitors Section advisory committee member
• Sarah Murphy, partner at Brabners LLP

Getting the grant of probate and reporting to HMRC

Understand the key requirements for solicitors in terms of applying for the grant of probate.

Our speakers share with us recent developments and what is coming down the pipeline to hopefully improve delays with probate.

They also consider practical scenarios such as:

• requesting an urgent expedition of a grant
• the differences between digital and paper applications
• how to check on updates within the portal

Speakers include:

• Sarah Robinson, senior knowledge lawyer at Penningtons Manches Cooper and Private Client Solicitors Section advisory committee member
• Thomas Pape, associate paralegal at Irwin Mitchell

 

Distribution of the estate

Part 1: tax considerations

Understand the tax considerations for post-grant matters, when dealing with the distribution of the estate.

Tax is ongoing, and you need to consider the tax consequences of all actions when dealing with an estate. This session is focused on estates, rather than trusts.

Our speakers share with us top tips for dealing with inheritance tax, capital gains tax and income tax, when administering the estate.

This session was recorded in early October 2024, so the position may change following the autumn budget announcement at the end of October 2024.

Speakers include:

• Chris Claxton Shirley, senior associate in the private client team at Tees, and Private Client Solicitors Section advisory committee member
• Carl Frost, head of trust and tax at Tees

 

Distribution of the estate

Part 2: practical considerations

Understand the practical considerations for post-grant matters, when dealing with the distribution of the estate.

Our speakers explore while waiting for the grant, what sorts of things the practitioner could be doing to progress the matter and how to prevent over distributions or receiving claims.

Our experts also highlight some case scenarios and anecdotes and share with us how to deal with an insolvent estate and what if the beneficiary has lost capacity.

They also touch upon key cross-referral opportunities.

Speakers include:

• Chris Claxton Shirley, senior associate in the private client team at Tees and Private Client Solicitors Section advisory committee member
• Roman Kubiak, partner and head of the private wealth disputes team at Hugh James
• Samantha Roberts, partner at Hugh James

 

 

 

Our speakers share with us what they think are most important initial steps when it comes to information gathering for estate administration.

They consider what information is needed where there is and isn’t a will.

Hear top tips on identifying if an estate may be open to any disputes and claims, and best practices in terms of communicating with family members and beneficiaries to keep them informed throughout the process

These videos were recorded on:

• 16 September 2024: distribution of the estate – practical considerations
• 25 September 2024: information gathering
• 1 October 2024: getting the grant of probate and reporting to HMRC, distribution of estate – tax considerations