Probate & Estate Administration Solicitors
For some, being the executor of a loved one’s estate is an honour. For others administering their estate while grieving their loss is overwhelming. Not only can this cause more stress and upset, but it can also lead to costly mistakes.
At Rothera Bray, our Probate and Administration solicitors can offer practical support and guidance. We can also take on the responsibility of administering the estate so you can process your loss.
What is probate?
Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. This involves:
- Identifying and valuing the deceased person’s assets and liabilities
- Paying off any debts and taxes owed by the estate
- Distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries named in the will
- If the deceased didn’t write a will, distributing those assets according to the rules of intestacy
- Carrying out the deceased person’s wishes as far as possible
Do I need a solicitor to apply for probate?
You do not legally need a wills and probate solicitor to apply for probate. In fact, many people deal with probate and the administration of estates on their own.
However, the process is often complex, time consuming and labour intensive. It can involve lots of complicated legal jargon, tax calculations and paperwork.
As an executor or administrator, you are legally responsible for administering an estate. As such, you will be liable for any mistakes or oversights.
When is it best to hire a probate solicitor?
Dealing with probate is often complicated and hard work. Especially if things do not go according to plan.
You may need a probate solicitor if:
- You do not have the time or expertise to deal with it yourself
- The will features foreign properties or assets
- Where income or capital gains need reporting
- The will features trusts
- If there is no will
- There is disagreement among the beneficiaries or potential beneficiaries
- There are legal challenges to the will or the distribution of the estate
- The estate is insolvent
- The estate is subject to inheritance tax
We can help make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Why choose Rothera Bray probate and estate administration solicitors?
At Rothera Bray, we can provide as much or as little help as you need. We offer a range of services to help you through the process. These include:
- Advising you on your legal rights and responsibilities as an executor or beneficiary
- Assisting with the valuation and distribution of assets
- Preparing and submitting the necessary paperwork to the probate registry
- Dealing with any legal challenges to the will or the distribution of the estate
- Liaising with HM Revenue and Customs to make sure you meet all tax obligations
- Managing any disputes that arise between beneficiaries or potential beneficiaries
Our estate solicitors have vast experience in supporting executors and estate administrators. We understand how difficult it can be to administer an estate. Especially when you are grieving the loss of a loved one.
We can offer a high level of expertise when you need it and take some of the responsibility away from you.
Send us a message
“We’re upfront about costs – so there’s no hidden surprises”
Kirsten Wood
Head of Wills and Probate
FAQs
There are circumstances when you do not need to apply for probate; These are;
- When an estate is joint owned by a spouse or civil partner as the estate will pass onto the surviving partner
- If the value of the estate is less than £5,000
- If banks or building societies agree to release funds without a Grant of Probate
If you are not sure if you need to apply for probate or not, we can help.
Probate takes a minimum of 6 months. However, on average, probate process takes around a year to complete. This is from the date of death to the distribution of the estate.
Once the Grant of Probate has been issued, it usually takes around six weeks to distribute the estate.
You do not have to wait.
However, under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, claimants have 6 months to start a claim against the estate.
If someone tries to make a claim against an estate that has already been distributed, it could cause huge legal problems.
As a result, it is advisable to distribute the estate 6 months after the Grant of Probate has been issued. This does mean that the estate might be distributed for well over a year.
If the debts of an estate are more than the assets, the estate is insolvent. In this case, you must pay the debts in order of priority.
- Secured debts – these are debts that are secured against a property. If the estate does not have enough money to pay all debts, it must be shared between creditors in proportion to what is owed.
- Funeral expenses – These must be reasonable, considering the total amount of debt.
- Probate costs – These are the costs incurred when executing the will and administering the estate. These include reasonable legal fees.
- Preferential debts – If the deceased employed someone, their wages are a preferential debt.
- Interest – on unsecured loans and credit cards.
- Deferred debts – including debts to family and friends.
In the UK, more than 1 in 5 people die without making a will.
When someone dies without a will, their next of kin usually administer their state according to the rules of intestacy.
When there are not any relatives to administer the estate, the HM Treasury take over and any assets go to the Crown. This means the money goes to paying off the national debt or to charity.
Administering the estate of someone who has died without a will can be extremely complicated.
Our specialist estate administration solicitors can help.
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Posted 10 March 2026
We recently instructed Abbey Freeman at Rothera Bray to act on our behalf when buying our first house. As first time buyers, this was a completely whole new process to us and quite frankly a scary one too! However, throughout the whole process, from start to finish, Abbey and Luisa were brilliant. They are both extremely knowledgeable, approachable and quick to respond to any queries we had to ease our minds and point us in the right direction. We can’t thank both of you enough for your help and expertise throughout this process.
Carly-Jo Wakeling
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Posted 9 March 2026
David was great, always positive but realistic on what to expect. Would highly recommend anyone needing help or advice on divorce.
J.P.
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Posted 9 March 2026
Excellent service as always from Lucy and Karen, this will have been our 4th house purchase through Lucy and Rothera Bray, never let us down and always on time.
Jon Baird
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Posted 7 March 2026
We had the pleasure of using Rothera Bray to purchase our first home. Ellie Robinson was incredible from start to finish. Nothing was too much of an issue for Ellie and she kept us well informed during what is an extremely stressful time. Her communication was always prompt and she kept us updated every step of the way. Thank you Ellie
Olly Thompson
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Posted 6 March 2026
Had the pleasure of Ellie Robinson handling the purchase of our first home and could not be more grateful for the way she handled it all. Good communication and fast responses, updated us at every step of the way, due diligence during searches and enquiries and reporting to us thereafter. Very friendly yet professional and I would 100% recommend Ellie, she made the process as stress free as possible! Very huge thank you!!!
Chel S
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Posted 6 March 2026
Rothera Bray Solicitors Loughborough; On a number of occasions I have asked Nelissa Hicks (Partner) to be my legal representative, she delivers with professional conduct, is thorough in all matters and a great communicator. She gets things done in a timely manner and she is a very nice person. I highly recommend Nelissa & Rothera Bray Solicitors, Loughborough for their legal support & services.
Nigel Stewart
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Posted 6 March 2026
I’ve been using Rothera Bray for a number of years now. I really appreciated their professionalism following the death of my wife. Together we sorted out her estate and rearranged my powers of attorney to accommodate my altered circumstances. Now four years on from that I’ve taken the opportunity to update my Will. Once again Rothera Bray were a pleasure to deal with under the guidance of Nelissa Hicks who was able to make suggestions which helped enormously to assist my thought process. From my experience I would have no hesitation in recommending them and Nelissa Hicks for a professional, caring and successful outcome.
R.B Beck
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Posted 6 March 2026
Abbey was absolutely amazing throughout the whole process of helping us buy our house. From the very start she was incredibly responsive and supportive always just a call or message away whenever we needed her, and nothing was ever too much trouble. What really stood out was how quickly everything moved. We first got in contact on January 9th and we’re getting our keys on March 6th, which is incredibly fast for a house purchase. Abbey kept everything progressing smoothly and made what could have been a stressful process feel straightforward and well managed. We’re so grateful for all her hard work and dedication. I would highly recommend Abbey to anyone looking for a solicitor, she’s professional, efficient, and genuinely cares about her clients.
Paris Statham
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Posted 5 March 2026
Just bought our first house with the help of Abbey, always keeping us in the loop, outlining things and making sure we understand everything. Would definitely recommend if you want to put your mind at ease, I was surprised at how stress free everything was having heard friends and families cases. Thanks Abbey!
Alex Woolley
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Posted 5 March 2026
We had a great experience with Russell explaining our current wills in layman’s terms and making suggestions for enhancements.
Kate
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Posted 5 March 2026
Natalie was fair, unbiased and honest. Professional throughout. Competitive pricing, good comms and scheduling. Very happy with the process and result. Highly recommend.
Tom Spooner
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Posted 4 March 2026
I recently used Sara at Rothera Bray to act for me on the sale of a property. The nature of the sale was complicated but Sara acted with great patience, always keeping me updated with frequent communication and expertise. I can't thank her enough. Highly recommended to you.
Ian Clay
Jeremy Allen
Partner & Head of Trusts and Court of Protection
Jeremy Allen is a Wills, Probate and Trusts specialist at Rothera Bray Solicitors and is based at our Lace Market offices in the heart of Nottingham City Centre.
Russell Dalby
Partner
Russell is a Partner based at our Market Harborough office and specialises in all areas of Private Client work. He predominantly deals with probate administration and estate planning work – such as advising on Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Inheritance Tax planning.
Ann Farnill
Partner
Ann Farnill is a Partner in Rothera Bray’s Wills, Probate and Trusts department and is based at our Mapperley office. She specialises in Wills, Inheritance Tax planning, Powers of Attorney including acting for lay attorneys, Estate planning and administration.
Nelissa Hicks
Partner
Nelissa is Partner at Rothera Bray with a demonstrated history of working in the legal services industry. Nelissa has over 20 years’ experience as a Wills, Probate, Tax and Trusts solicitor and is based at our Loughborough office. She is skilled in Inheritance Tax Planning and the Administration of Trusts and Estates.
Martin Witherspoon
Partner
Martin provides advice and assistance with regard to Wills, Powers of Attorney and administration of estates at our West Bridgford Office.
Kirsten Wood
Partner & Head of Wills and Probate
Kirsten Wood leads the firm’s Wills and Probate department and is a partner with over 18 years’ experience specialising in will drafting, tax, trusts, estate administration and lasting powers of attorney.
Melissa Merry
Consultant
Melissa Merry is a Consultant in our Wills and Probate department, with over 30 years of experience in private client work. Melissa is based at our Derby city centre branch.
Mark Hopper
Managing Associate
Mark Hopper is a Managing Associate in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate team and specialises in the administration of taxable estates and trusts, and the drafting of Wills involving the use of trusts.
Sally Jahangir
Managing Associate
Sally Jahangir is a Managing Associate in Rothera Bray’s Private Client team and is based at our Lace Market, Nottingham office.
Eleanor Robinson
Managing Associate
Eleanor Robinson is a Wills, Probate and Trusts specialist at and is based at our West Bridgford office.
Sarah Soo
Managing Associate
Sarah Soo is a Wills and Probate specialist at Rothera Bray Solicitors and has specialised in private client work since she began her career. Sarah is currently based at both our Beeston and Nottingham offices.
Amelia Carruthers
Senior Associate Solicitor
Amelia Carruthers is a Senior Associate at Rothera Bray’s Derby office and is experienced in drafting wills, lasting powers of attorney, administering estates and providing tax advice and planning.
Sandra Garvey
Senior Associate
Sandra is a Senior Associate in our Wills & Probate department based at our Market Harborough office and has over 35 years in experience in dealing in all areas of Wills & Probate.
Julie Graham
Senior Associate Solicitor
Julie is a Senior Associate Solicitor in our Wills and Probate department and is based at our West Bridgford Office.
Amy Goodwin
Associate Solicitor
Amy Goodwin is an Associate in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate team and is based at our Derby office.
Sam Hardy
Associate
Sam is an Associate in Rothera Bray’s Wills, Probate and Trusts department, specialising in trusts and estates administration. He is based at our Market Harborough office.
Rebecca Lee
Associate Solicitor
Rebecca is an Associate Solicitor in our Wills & Probate team based at our Leicester office.
Jasmin Marshall
Associate Solicitor
Jasmin Marshall is an Associate Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Mapperley office.
Libby Birt
Solicitor
Libby Birt is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Loughborough office.
Toby Byford
Solicitor
Toby is a Solicitor in the firms specialist Trusts team. He is based at our Lace Market office.
Talita Fantauzzi
Solicitor
Talita Fantauzzi is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Nottingham office.
Lacey Glover
Private Client Executive
Lacey Glover is a Private Client Executive in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department. She is based at our Beeston office but can visit clients across the East Midlands.
Ed Granger
Solicitor
Ed is a solicitor in the firm’s specialist trusts team. He is based at our Lace Market office.
Rebecca Holmes
Legal Executive
Rebecca is a Legal Executive in our Wills & Probate team. She is based at our Lace Market office.
Ria Makwana
Solicitor
Ria Makwana is a Private Client Solicitor specialising in Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning and Administration, and is based at our Loughborough office.
Sallie Poultney
Private Client Executive
Sallie is a Private Client Executive in the Private Client Department at our Market Harborough office. She advises clients on a range of private client services including Wills, Probate and Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Alison Richardson
Legal Executive
Alison Richardson is a member of the wills, trust & probate team based at our Mapperley branch.
Amanda White
Private Client Executive
Amanda is a Private Client Executive in the Wills and Probate department at our Leicester office. She advises clients on a range of private client services and has been handling her own caseload since 2014.
Laura Windsor
Chartered Legal Executive
Laura Windsor is a Chartered Legal Executive in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Beeston office.
Morgan Bramley
Trainee Solicitor
Morgan is a Trainee Solicitor in our Private Client department and is based at the Mapperley office.
Isabelle Cartwright
Trainee Solicitor
Isabelle Cartwright is a Trainee Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Loughborough office.
Sabita Kandel
Trainee Solicitor
Sabita Kandel is a Trainee Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate team and is based at our Beeston office.
Jack Cooper
Senior Paralegal
Jack Cooper is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based in Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Anna Guy
Senior Paralegal
Anna Guy has over 10 years’ experience of working in law firms, and 7 years’ experience of dealing with Wills and Probate matters.
Rochelle Hutton
Senior Paralegal
Rochelle works in the private client team at the Market Harborough office, having joined the firm in November 2024.
Hollie Moore
Senior Paralegal
Hollie Moore is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Mapperley office.
Emma Seaton
Senior Paralegal
Emma Seaton is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate team and is based at our Mapperley office.
Sarah Simpson
Senior Paralegal
Sarah is a Senior Paralegal in our Wills & Probate department based at Market Harborough office.
Lisa Warren
Senior Paralegal
Lisa Warren is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate team and is based in Derby.
Beth Ashton
Paralegal
Beth Ashton is a Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Derby Office.
Amy Emmerson
Paralegal
Amy Emmerson is a Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate team and is based at our Beeston office.
Brett James
Paralegal
Brett James is a Wills and Probate Paralegal at Rothera Bray Solicitors and is based at our Lace Market, Nottingham office.
Michelle Kingston
Paralegal
Michelle Kingston is a Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Lace Market, Nottingham branch.
Kathryn Lane
Paralegal
Kathryn Lane is a Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Loughborough office.
Elaine Langley
Paralegal
Elaine is a Paralegal in the Wills and Probate department based at the West Bridgford office.
Morgan McGahan
Paralegal
Morgan is a Paralegal in our Wills and Probate department and is based at our West Bridgford office.
Janet Prentice
Paralegal
Janet Prentice is a Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills, Probate and Trusts department and is based at our Lace Market office in the heart of Nottingham city centre.
Gill Subbarao
Paralegal
Gill Subbarao is a Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Mapperley office.
Georgia Weller
Paralegal
Georgia is a Paralegal in our Wills and Probate team. She is based at our Market Harborough office.
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