The Co-operative has announced easier access to legal and life planning services by offering Probate advice and help with will writing and life planning in some of its bank branches across the UK*
Being able to get professional Probate advice so conveniently will be welcomed by many, as this is an area which still causes people a lot of confusion, difficulty and distress.
When a loved one passes away it can be difficult to know exactly what you need to do, especially if you’ve never experienced bereavement before. The Co-operative can provide you with help and guidance on what to do at this difficult time with advice and support covering:
- The immediate next steps
When someone passes away there are a lot of things that will need to be dealt with such as registering the death and notifying organisations. The Co-operative can provide advice on who you will need to contact and what you need to do with documents such as passports and driving licences. They can also provide advice on how to protect property (especially if it is unoccupied), how to arrange insurance for the deceased’s assets and any benefit entitlements that loved ones may be entitled to.
- Who is responsible for managing the deceased’s estate
If someone dies leaving a Will then they will have nominated people they trust, known as Executors, to manage their affairs. However, if someone dies without a Will then it is a little more complicated as the government’s Rules of Intestacy apply and these rules determine who can administer and who can benefit from the deceased’s estate in a strict order of priority.
The Co-operative’s Probate advice service can help you establish who will be responsible for managing the deceased’s estate and understand their role and responsibilities.
- An explanation of what Probate is and whether it is required
When people die they are likely to leave behind property and assets which will need to be dealt with on their death. Under certain circumstances the Executor or Administrator must apply to the Court to obtain the legal right to deal with the estate of the deceased. This application process is called Probate and The Co-operative can help you understand whether Probate is required on the deceased’s estate.
If you are the Executor or Administrator of an estate and it is established that Probate is required, you can choose to either take on the full responsibility yourself or appoint a professional to handle the estate on your behalf.
*source: http://www.compareprepaid.co.uk/cards/bank-accounts/09/2011/legal-and-life-planning-services-launch-by-co-operative-bank/
Author Bio: The Co-operative Legal Services can provide advice and support on Probate. They also offer a professional Probate and Estate Administration service where they can take care of the whole Probate process for you so you have the peace of mind of knowing that the estate is being managed professionally. Visit The Co-operative Legal Services website for more information.
Contact:
Dave Smith
Co-operative Group Limited
PR Manager Corporate
Manchester
United Kingdom
Tel: 0161 827 5614
dave.smith@co-operative.coop
Web: http://www.co-operative.coop/