Many people have never made a will - it's something that people often only get around to when they're either ill or advanced in age. And yet, unfortunately, the nature of death is that it often comes without warning. It is always a good idea to have a will, because not only will it give you peace of mind knowing that your possessions will pass on where you want when you die, but also it makes sorting out your estate much easier for your family and friends.

We are currently going through an incredibly unusual period, and due to lockdowns, office closures and furlough schemes, many processes, procedures and means of operation have had to alter. Numerous businesses have had to change the services they offer, and that has understandably led to confusion over what can be attained during this time, and what cannot.

Losing a loved one can be devastating but unfortunately it is something we will all have to deal with in our lives.

Probate is the process of administering a dead person's estate. If the deceased has left a will and appointed an executor, that person will usually be granted probate automatically. However, if no will is left, the next of kin will have to apply for a 'grant of letters of administration', before proceeding with probate.

If a person has died without leaving a will, it is usually up to the next of kin to apply for a 'grant of letters of administration', otherwise known as probate. While this in itself can sometimes feel like an ordeal, especially in such a time of grief, there is still much to do after probate is granted in order to fully complete the administration of the estate. In fact, it can take another six to twelve months to transfer all the funds, assets, and property of an estate once probate is granted. The exact length of time it takes to administer an estate depends very much on how complicated the estate is and whether anything unexpected happens during the process, such as liabilities against the estate.

The term 'probate' refers to the legal process of reviewing a will. This process is aimed at determining the authenticity and validity of a will. You can think of it as the general administration factor of a deceased person's estate. There is no 'normal' timeframe for the probate process, but we'll try to give you an idea of how long you can expect it to take in this article.