Practical guidance from Simon Jenkins, Director at Curtis Legal.
Do you have to act as an executor if named in a will? No. You can accept, renounce, or reserve power. What each option means, what intermeddling is, and how to make the right decision.
Read more →How to apply for a Grant of Probate — which form to use, the £300 court fee, completing IHT400, signing the statement of truth, and what happens after submission. Full 2026 guide.
Read more →Where to store your will so your executors can find it after death. A will that cannot be found may as well not exist — 5 secure options, what each involves, and what to do if a will goes missing.
Read more →Learn how to track your probate application with HMCTS, what the 2026 processing timelines look like, why applications get delayed, and what to do if yours has stalled. Expert guidance from specialist solicitor Simon Jenkins.
Read more →Can executors sell property before probate to pay inheritance tax? This guide explains the HMRC Direct Payment Scheme, instalment option, and bridging finance — with advice from specialist probate solicitor Simon Jenkins.
Read more →Need to access a deceased HSBC bank account? HSBC offers online document upload via its Bereavement Centre portal — find out how the process works and when probate is required.
Read more →Dealing with a deceased Lloyds bank account? Beware the three-threshold trap — Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland each have their own £50,000 probate threshold. Curtis Legal explains all.
Read more →Dealing with a deceased Barclays bank account? Barclays has no fixed probate threshold — it decides case by case. Curtis Legal explains the process and how to avoid costly delays.
Read more →How to get money out of a deceased bank account depends on the bank, the balance, and whether probate is needed. Here is the complete 2026 guide covering every major UK bank.
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