Estate administration advice in Scotland for private individuals
When a friend or relative dies leaving you – as an executor – to deal with winding up an estate, it can be stressful working out which of the many administrative tasks you should tackle first…
What you need during this difficult period is advice from a professional who has extensive experience of obtaining probate (or Confirmation, as it’s known in Scotland) coupled with an in-depth knowledge of the complex process of estate administration. In short, you need an approachable, straight-talking paralegal professional, who has the knowledge, skill and patience to guide you through all the forms to be filled and the phone calls to be made.
Gail MacLean has been an executry paralegal for over 20 years and has accumulated a wealth of experience in dealing with estate administration, from small estates to large estates and covering varying degrees of complexity.
In 2009, she gained her Specialist Paralegal qualification in Wills, Trusts & Executries from Strathclyde University and in 2012 became a member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners, after gaining her STEP diploma in Trusts & Estates.
Administrative support for the recently bereaved
Losing someone dear to you is a traumatic experience, and dealing with the multifarious arrangements that have to be made afterwards – while you are still grieving – can also be upsetting. Our aim is to lighten your administrative burden by guiding you compassionately through this difficult and emotionally draining time. If you are struggling to obtain Confirmation or getting bogged down with sorting out an estate, we can help you to:
- Register the death.
- Arrange the funeral.
- Find all the relevant paperwork you need to deal with the deceased’s affairs.
- Inform everyone who needs to know about the death.
- Search an empty property for all the relevant papers that are needed.
- Instruct property and personal effects valuations if necessary.
- Gather all the information you will require if you are asked for a Certificate of Confirmation (Probate).
If you are seeking assistance with any of the above, just give us a call during business hours.
Advice on obtaining Confirmation and winding up estates
AGC Legal’s freelance executry paralegal services offer the recently bereaved in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, Perthshire and Kinross-shire professional support with many of the aspects of estate administration in Scotland that can prove challenging for someone who is unfamiliar with the legal system.
As a fully qualified paralegal, Gail specialises in helping private individuals wind up the estates of friends and family who have died. So whether you need help to fill in a difficult form from the Department for Work and Pensions or to apply for a Certificate of Confirmation in an estate, she will help you every step of the way.
If you feel you may benefit from our services, Gail would be delighted to meet you for a free, no obligation, initial meeting to establish your precise requirements. Following this discussion, she would then provide you with an estimated fee. The initial meeting, and any subsequent meetings, would normally take place at your home, as we believe our clients feel more comfortable in their own familiar surroundings.
At the outset, you will be provided with a Schedule of Work and Terms of Business detailing what was agreed at our initial meeting. You will be asked to sign and return this before we start working with you. This gives you a chance to ensure that both you and AGC Legal have understood exactly what work AGC Legal will be carrying out for you, and what these services will cost.
AGC Legal doesn’t offer a full estate administration service, and our fees reflect this. However, if we establish – after meeting you – that the estate is too large or complex for you to deal with on your own, we can recommend a reputable solicitor to advise you further.
Contact us for more information about how we can make the process of estate administration less stressful for you.