When a loved one dies, not only is it an emotional time for close relatives but you may have a lot to do including registering the death and organising the funeral. You will also need to find out what will happen to the assets and property of the deceased. If your loved one left a will, their wishes should be clearly set out for the named executors to follow. If there is no will, then the intestacy rules will determine who will inherit and in what order.

Regardless of whether there is a will or not, someone will have to get the legal authority to deal with the estate, and this process is known as getting probate. The process of probate can be complicated and inexperienced executors can end up causing unnecessary delays.

In this series of blogs, Shelly Wainwright, solicitor in the wills and probate team at Ansons Lichfield office, Staffordshire, answers your frequently asked questions on probate – including how the probate process works, how you need to apply and how we can help.

What is a grant of representation?

A grant of representation is general term used to describe the document that gives legal authority to those named on it to collect in the estate and distribute it in accordance with either the terms of the will, or the intestacy rules if they did not make a will.

If the deceased left a will, the executors will need to apply to the probate registry for a grant of probate.

If no valid will can be found, then a close relative can apply to the probate registry for a document called grant of letters of administration.

Our wills and probate team advise and support families throughout Staffordshire in making an application for probate. We can also act as a professional executor.

For further information and advice, please contact Shelly Wainwright in the wills and probate team, on 01543 267 984 or email swainwright@ansonsllp.com. Ansons Solicitors has offices in Cannock and Lichfield, Staffordshire.