Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
Managing an estate and applying for probate can be complex. Get clear guidance on executor responsibilities, the probate process, and estate administration.
From April 2026, Agricultural Property Relief is capped at £1 million. Learn how this affects family farms and what executors need to know.
Start 2026 with your affairs in order. Essential estate planning guide covering wills, LPAs, and critical IHT changes before April 2026.
From April 2027, unused pension funds will be subject to inheritance tax. Learn what's changing and how it affects bereaved families.
The November 2025 Budget confirmed IHT changes. Learn what was announced, what the rumours got wrong, and what it means for bereaved families.
Yes — most executors can handle probate without a solicitor. Honest guide to what DIY probate involves, which estates are suitable, common pitfalls, time commitment, and cost comparison.
Do you pay Capital Gains Tax on inherited property? CGT rates, Private Residence Relief, lettings relief, CGT allowance, how to calculate CGT on property sale after death.
Complete guide to house clearance after death including legal requirements, costs, timing, and spring-specific considerations for emptying a property.
Step-by-step probate application process, forms needed, costs, and typical timeframes for grant of probate.
Comprehensive guide to the probate process in the UK for 2025. How to apply, timescales, costs, and distributing the estate.
Ultimate step-by-step probate guide: 10-stage process, realistic timelines (6-18 months), complete costs (DIY vs solicitor), IHT forms, executor duties, common problems & solutions.
How to contest a will: valid grounds, who can contest, caveat process, mediation vs court, costs £3K-£100K+, success rates, and timeline.
Executor's guide to deceased tax returns: who must file, final tax return deadlines, claiming refunds, reporting income after death, HMRC notification.
The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 lets certain people challenge a will or intestacy that leaves them without reasonable financial provision. Who can claim, the 6-month deadline, and what courts consider.
What happens to digital assets after death? Handle social media, email, cloud storage, cryptocurrency, online banking. Complete executor guide.
Should you do probate yourself or use a solicitor? Complete cost comparison: DIY £273-£800 vs Solicitor £1,500-£10,000+. Time, risk, and decision framework.
Probate needed if estate has property or over £50K. Joint accounts exempt. Check bank thresholds: HSBC £50K, smaller banks £15K.
Find out if you need probate in the UK. Property always needs probate. Small estates under £5K-£50K may not (depends on bank). Joint assets exempt.
Most DC pensions bypass probate entirely — they pass in discretionary trust outside the estate. Find out which pensions are exceptions, what executors must do, and how IHT rules change in April 2027.
Life insurance only counts as part of the estate if it is NOT written in trust. How to find out, what executors must do, IHT implications, and how to claim as executor or beneficiary.
Comprehensive estate administration checklist for UK executors. Step-by-step guide covering probate, asset collection, debt payment, and distribution with timelines.
Executor won't act or communicate? Your rights, removing executors, court proceedings, delays, disputes, and alternative solutions.
Urgent checklist for executors before April 5th tax year-end. Capital Gains Tax allowances, IHT planning, and estate admin actions before April 6th changes.
How to file Self Assessment tax return for someone who died. HMRC bereavement relief, deadline extensions, executor responsibilities, and penalty cancellation.
Common places to search for a will, using the National Will Register, and what to do if you can't find one.
Percentage probate fees are almost always more expensive than fixed fees on UK estates. How to compare quotes properly, identify hidden VAT and disbursement costs, and what to ask before instructing anyone.
A grant-only service means a professional applies for the grant while you handle the administration. Costs £400–£800. When it makes sense, what's included, and what you still do yourself.
HMRC IHT400 review takes ~12 weeks before IHT421 issues for probate. Tax repayments 8–10 weeks. Bereavement Service helpline, delays and the full timeline.
Step-by-step difficulty rating for every stage of DIY probate. The IHT forms are the hardest part; the emotional toll of doing this while grieving is harder still.
Probate timeline UK: how long from death to grant of probate to distributing estate. Average 3-12 months. Delays, speeding up probate, what affects timeline.
Learn how to write a legally valid will in the UK. Legal requirements, what to include, DIY vs solicitor costs, and common mistakes to avoid.
A valid will in England and Wales must be signed by the testator and two independent witnesses. Use our four-point checklist to assess formal validity before applying for probate.
How to complete IHT400 Inheritance Tax form: step-by-step guide, schedules needed, common mistakes, IHT400 vs IHT205, deadlines, submitting to HMRC.
IHT402 transfers unused nil rate band from a deceased spouse or civil partner. Claim up to £325,000 extra tax-free allowance. Step-by-step completion guide with worked examples.
IHT405 lists all property, land, and buildings in the estate for inheritance tax. Get the valuation right to avoid HMRC enquiries. Step-by-step completion guide.
IHT406 lists all bank accounts, savings, and ISAs in the estate. How to get date-of-death balances, handle joint accounts, and include accrued interest.
IHT407 covers furniture, jewellery, cars, art, and personal items in the estate. How to value household goods for HMRC, when professional valuations are needed.
IHT419 deducts debts from the taxable estate — mortgages, credit cards, loans, care fees. Which debts HMRC allows and common mistakes that trigger enquiries.
IHT435 claims the Residence Nil Rate Band (up to £175,000). Conditions, downsizing rules, taper for estates over £2m. Step-by-step guide.
IHT436 transfers unused RNRB from a deceased spouse or civil partner — potentially adding up to £175,000 extra tax-free allowance. Conditions and calculation guide.
Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief capped at £2.5m from April 6th 2026. Critical deadline for farms, businesses, and AIM portfolios.
The IHT nil-rate band has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009. Learn how fiscal drag affects estates and what it means for families.
Complete guide to inheritance tax in the UK for 2025–26. Nil-rate band, reliefs, how to calculate IHT, and how to pay HMRC.
UK inheritance tax 2026/27: £325K nil-rate band, £175K RNRB, 40% rate, 7-year rule. Complete guide with thresholds, exemptions and how to calculate.
Inherited property with mortgage? Your options, mortgage liability, taking over payments, selling with mortgage, insurance claims, and tax implications.
Inherited property with tenants? Your landlord obligations, taking over tenancy, deposit protection, rental income tax, selling with tenants, eviction rights.
There is no expiry date on a will in England and Wales — but marriage revokes it, divorce lapses gifts to the ex-spouse, and a later will supersedes it. Full checklist before applying for probate.
An honest analysis of the real risks of DIY probate — IHT errors, personal liability for debts, missing assets, distributing to the wrong person — and how to mitigate each one.
Joint accounts pass automatically to the surviving owner by the right of survivorship — no probate needed. Find out what to tell the bank, how long it takes, and the IHT position.
Can you live in inherited property rent-free? Executor rights, beneficiary occupancy rules, council tax, CGT relief, permission needed, living there during probate.
The most recent validly executed will with a revocation clause governs. Learn about partial revocation, mirror wills, foreign wills, destroyed wills, and what to do when two wills have the same date.
Compare UK online probate services in 2026 — Farewill, Settle, Co-op Legal Services, DIY via GOV.UK, and Farra. Costs, what's included, and a decision framework for choosing the right option.
Not sure if you need probate? Use this guide to understand the process and gather everything you'll need.
HMRC charges 8.75% interest on unpaid inheritance tax. Learn how to pay IHT before probate and avoid unnecessary interest charges.
UK probate application fee is £300 for estates over £5,000. Help with Fees, total costs by scenario, fee history and how to pay from a frozen estate.
Everything you need to know about probate: when it's required, how to apply, costs, timelines, and how to administer an estate after the grant.
Probate specialists and solicitors both have the legal authority to apply for probate but differ significantly on cost and scope. How to verify credentials, compare fee structures, and choose correctly.
When probate is required in the UK in 2025. Asset thresholds by bank and institution, small estate rules, and how to avoid probate where possible.
Current probate processing times for all UK regions. Weekly-updated data from HMCTS, how to check your application, and what causes delays.
What is Residence Nil-Rate Band? £175K extra IHT allowance when passing home to children. RNRB eligibility, taper threshold, downsizing relief, how to claim.
Complete guide to selling inherited property: when you can sell, probate requirements, Capital Gains Tax, empty property issues, estate agent vs auction.
How gifts before death are taxed, taper relief rates, exempt gifts, and what executors need to report on IHT forms.
How to transfer property ownership after death: Land Registry forms (AS1, DJP, AP1), probate requirements, changing deeds, joint tenants vs tenants in common, fees and timeline.
UK inheritance tax receipts hit ~£8.2bn in 2025/26, up 52% in 7 years. Why fiscal drag is driving record IHT — and what April 2027 pension reforms change.
11 UK probate registries: current waiting times by court (Edinburgh fastest, London slowest). Why you can't choose, and how to track yours.
Current IHT thresholds, who needs to pay, exemptions, and how to calculate what's owed on an estate.
How to value an estate for probate: property valuation, bank accounts, investments, personal belongings, debts, IHT205 vs IHT400, excepted estates, HMRC requirements.
Comprehensive guide to what forms part of the probate estate — property, bank accounts, investments, pensions, life insurance, digital assets — and what passes outside probate.
Complete checklist of documents needed for probate in the UK. From death certificates to asset valuations - everything executors need to gather for probate applications.
Who inherits when there's no will, intestacy rules explained, and how to apply for letters of administration.
Inherited property? Decide whether to keep, sell, or rent. Tax implications, CGT, SDLT relief, mortgage options, and step-by-step process.
Situations where probate isn't required, including small estates, joint assets, and nominated beneficiaries.
Handwritten amendments to a will are presumed invalid — the original wording applies. Find out when an amendment is valid, what obliteration means, and how the Probate Registry assesses amended wills.
A will with only one witness is legally invalid in England and Wales — there is no way to fix this after death. Find out what happens to the estate and how to apply for Letters of Administration.
A will witnessed by a beneficiary is valid, but the beneficiary's gift fails under s.15 Wills Act 1837. The rule catches the witness's spouse too. What executors must do when this problem arises.