Apart from the often very difficult emotional side, selling a probate property is much like selling any other property, except for a few complications. Before selling a probate property, you’ll need a Grant of Probate.

This process can take a few months to complete, but it must be done before you can move forward with a sale. You’ll also need to consider any disputes and outstanding debts before putting a property on the market.

On paper, selling a probate property is simple. However, the added obligations and the need for speed can make the transaction tricky particularly when you add in the very difficult emotions that are often experienced at this difficult time. By law, you’ll need to iron out some paperwork before you can go forward. However, it’s in your interest to not wait around too long, as vacant properties become more vulnerable to fraud and increasingly difficult to insure.

This is where probate conveyancing solicitors come in. Acting on your behalf, a solicitor can get the administrative ball rolling early so that you can close the sale as soon as possible. It can also be a relief to many in this position for understanding expert to take the load off you.

When selling a probate property, there are many important things to take care of including informing the building’s insurance provider of the owner’s death (even if the property is tenanted), getting valuations of the property to gauge an average value price and obtaining the title deeds of a property if the property is not registered at the land registry (which it often isn’t when it’s been owned for a long time).

Expert help from solicitors who understand all the hoops you need to go through and can take the burden off your is something many in this situation really appreciate and we can help you with all of that.

Our probate conveyancing solicitors can help speed up the process of a probate sale by investigating at an early stage anything that might slow things up later down the line.

The main things include checking if the property is registered at the land registry and locating and dealing with the deeds (which is a more complicated specialist process ) if it isn’t, reminding you of your obligation to get probate (our colleagues in our probate team can take care of this for you) and helping with the many questions our clients usually have in this often very difficult situation.

Advice on capital gains tax and managing other assets can all be dealt with by our colleagues in our probate team.

While conveyancing solicitors take care of anything to do with the transfer of the property, probate solicitors are experts in managing estates which includes advising on the the tax and practical outcomes of any transfer. You can do the probate side on your own but our advice is to seriously think about whether you want the burden.

At least keep your options open by choosing a firm that can act on both if you change your mind, as well as offer other services you might need right now as an executor or in the future (if a dispute arises for example). At Lockings, we are a full-service firm with all areas of expertise relevant to probate sales firmly under our belt.