Support for life’s most difficult moments 

When someone close to you passes away, sorting through their affairs can feel like a second loss. There’s paperwork, tax, legal steps and often more questions than answers. 

As your accountants, we already understand your financial world. Now, we can guide you through the probate process too, making things simpler, more personal and far less stressful.  

Probate made simpler 

With us, everything stays under one roof, saving you time, reducing costs and avoiding the need to repeat details over and over. 

We’ll handle: 

• All legal forms and probate applications 
• Inheritance Tax calculations and HMRC discussions 
• Estate accounts and asset distribution 
• Obtaining the Grant of Probate 

The timeframe depends on the estate’s complexity. For straightforward cases, obtaining a Grant of Probate usually takes three to six months. 

Partner and staff charge-out rates are shared upfront, with a free initial consultation. Fees are usually based on time spent, though fixed fees can be arranged for simpler estates. We always provide an estimate of the likely cost at the start of our engagement and update you if this changes. Costs typically start at £3,500 plus VAT and disbursements. 

What to expect, step by step 

      1. Valuing assets & managing IHT 

We’ll create a detailed balance sheet of the deceased’s assets and liabilities, handle the IHT Return and ensure all available reliefs are claimed.  

      2. Handling the probate application 

We’ll manage the full probate application process including verifying the will, completing forms, calculating the estate’s value and submitting everything to the Probate Registry. 

      3. Liquidating assets & fair distribution 

We’ll identify and value all assets, settle any debts and handle tax returns. If necessary, we’ll assist in selling assets and prepare final accounts, ensuring everything is compliant and transparent. We’ll then ensure assets are distributed correctly, providing tax advice to minimise liabilities and ensuring full compliance with legal requirements. 

Who we are 

MGR Probate Limited is licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry out the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate in England and Wales. Details of our probate accreditation can be viewed at ICAEW Reserved Legal Services under reference number C011004614.   

The ICAEW’s Probate Regulations can be viewed at icaew.com/regulations.  

Details of our complaint procedure can be found here.  

We are covered by the ICAEW’s Probate Compensation Scheme. In the unlikely event that we are unable to meet our liabilities to you, claims under this scheme must be submitted to the ICAEW within 12 months of becoming aware, or reasonably should have become aware, of the loss.  

As outlined in our Terms of Business, we maintain professional indemnity insurance in accordance with ICAEW regulations. 

Get in touch 

Need further information or guidance? Please get in touch at probate@mgr.co.uk  

ICAEW Probate Diversity Survey 

At mgr, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where individuals are not discriminated against on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or any other characteristic. 

By embracing different perspectives, we promote a culture of respect and collaboration, ensuring that everyone has equal opportunity to thrive and succeed.  

Quality of service

We aim to provide you with the best possible service.  In order that we may do that on an ongoing basis, it is essential that you provide us with the relevant records and information when requested, reply to correspondence in a timely manner and otherwise follow the terms of the agreement between us as set out in our engagement letter(s) and terms of business.

If at any time you would like to discuss with us how our service to you could be improved, or if you are dissatisfied with the service you are receiving, please let us know by contacting Nick Muir.

We undertake to look into any complaint carefully and promptly and do all we can to resolve it.  If you feel that we have given you a less than satisfactory service, we undertake to do everything reasonable to put it right.  If you are still not satisfied, you may of course take up matters with our professional body, the ICAEW.