Estate administration is the process of dealing with legal, financial and personal tax affairs after death.

It involves obtaining a grant of probate (confirmation in Scotland). But this is just one part of the process.

All assets need to be dealt with. These could be property, investments, personal possessions and liabilities, such as outstanding debts and estate expenses.

Other aspects could include:

• Notifying beneficiaries and dealing with their questions
• Redirecting post and cancelling or transferring utilities
• Dealing with any Income Tax liabilities
• Advising on the distribution of assets to avoid or mitigate tax liabilities
• Calculating and paying Inheritance Tax where relevant
• Dealing with specialist legal work.

You might want to administer an estate by yourself, but please be aware this could take a considerable amount of time and effort. It also leaves you liable for any mistakes you might make.

The issues you’ll face after the death of a loved one are rarely straightforward. That's because they involve procedures most of us aren’t used to dealing with, and financial matters are often the last thing on our minds in this situation.

The St James’s Place Estate Administration Service aims to provide your client’s loved ones with access to a service that can alleviate them of the administrative burden that comes with dealing with somebody’s affairs when they die. This is an incredibly valuable service and Kings Court Trust, Clarke Wilmott and Pavilion Row have been chosen for their commitment to client care and their market leading services.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief is dependent on individual circumstances.

The services provided by Kings Court Trust, Clarke Wilmott and Pavilion Row are separate and distinct from those offered by St. James's Place.