Probate Solicitor Taunton, Bridgwater, Wellington & West Somerset
Probate Solicitor Somerset
Specialist probate and estate administration services for executors and families across Somerset.
Dealing with probate and administering an estate can feel overwhelming. Whether you need help obtaining a Grant of Probate or would like us to manage the whole estate, you’ll deal directly with specialist probate solicitor Rebecca Padgett. She provides clear, sensitive guidance, with fees agreed in advance and regular updates throughout.
Free 15-minute initial phone consultation with Rebecca
Rebecca Padgett
Solicitor · TEP · FCILEx
Specialist in Probate and Estate Administration
GET A LITTLE HELP WITH PROBATE OR A LOT
Probate services and prices
How much probate costs depends on the estate and how much help you need. Choose from help obtaining the Grant of Probate, complete estate administration, or assistance with a difficult or partially administered estate.
Rebecca will explain your options clearly and agree the work and fees with you in advance. You’ll deal directly with Rebecca throughout – your matter won’t be passed from one person to another.
How we can help with probate and estate administration
Grant-only service
Grant of Probate Service
We value the estate, deal with the necessary tax reporting, and prepare and submit the application for the Grant of Probate.
- Estate valuation
- Required tax reporting
- Grant application prepared and submitted
Complete service
Full Estate Administration
We handle the estate from start to finish, taking care of the legal and administrative work on the executors’ behalf.
- Assets, property, debts and tax
- Beneficiaries and estate accounts
- Legacies and final distribution
Help at any stage
Difficult or Partially Administered Estates
If you have started the process and feel stuck, are worried that something may have been missed, or are considering changing probate solicitors, we can help.
- Review work already completed
- Identify problems and next steps
- Take over the administration where appropriate
Additional fees and disbursements
Identification – we are required to confirm identity, per person: £36 inc VAT
Transfer of ownership or sale of property, additional fee, quoted separately £ tba
Probate Registry Fee – HM Courts and Tribunals fee: £526 no VAT
For a full breakdown of Probate costs and additional fees, please see our detailed pricing page: Probate and Estate Administration Price and Services Information ›
Speak to specialist probate solicitor Rebecca Padgett
Find out if our service is right for you. Arrange a free 15 minute initial phone consultation to help you understand your options and decide how you would like to proceed.
Probate solicitor serving Taunton, Bridgwater, Wellington and West Somerset
R J Padgett is based in Porlock, near Minehead, and provides probate and estate administration services to executors and families across Somerset. We regularly assist clients in Taunton, Bridgwater, Wellington, Wiveliscombe, Watchet, Williton and the surrounding areas.
You do not need to live near our office for us to administer the estate. Most probate work can be handled by telephone or video call, and documents can be exchanged securely or by post. Appointments are also available at our Porlock office, with home visits by arrangement.
Most clients do not need to visit our office. Meetings can be held by telephone or video call, wherever you are based in Somerset. If you would prefer to meet in person, you’ll be very welcome at our office in Porlock, near Minehead, Somerset.
Why choose R J Padgett for probate and estate administration?
Rebecca Padgett, Solicitor, TEP, FCILEx, LLB (Hons), ILFM (Dip)
You get a bespoke service delivered by the firm’s principal, solicitor Rebecca Padgett.
Personal service from Rebecca
Rebecca personally handles your matter and gets to know the estate in detail. You’ll have direct contact with her throughout. You won’t be passed between different members of a large team.
Specialist expertise
Rebecca has more than 18 years’ experience in probate and private client law and is a full member of STEP. Her legal knowledge is combined with a practical understanding of the personal and family issues that can arise when administering an estate.
Fixed fees agreed in advance
Wherever possible, we agree a fixed fee before work begins, so you understand what is included and how much our service will cost.
Clear explanations and regular updates
We explain everything in plain English and keep you informed as the estate progresses, so you always know where matters stand.
Help with straightforward and complex estates
We assist with estates of all sizes. This includes simple cases as well as those with property, investments, Inheritance Tax, trusts, overseas assets, or potential claims.
Sensitive, respectful and discreet
Probate can involve difficult emotions and sensitive family dynamics. Our approach is calm, pragmatic and considered, with a focus on reducing stress and helping the administration progress smoothly.
Speak to Rebecca – arrange a free 15 minute initial consultation:
01643 802 263 · enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk
Speak to our friendly team:
01643 802 263
enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk
What will we take care of?
What a probate solicitor does for executors
Being an executor brings considerable responsibility. You want to honour the person’s wishes, protect the beneficiaries, and ensure nothing important is missed. Administering what appears to be a simple estate can involve more work than many executors expect.
Getting professional help does not mean giving up control. Rebecca will discuss the estate with you, explain what needs to be done and agree how much of the process you would like us to handle. You can remain in control and make the decisions. We take care of the legal and administrative work, keeping you informed throughout.
Legal work involved in administering an estate :
Reviewing the Will and confirming who can administer the estate
Identifying and valuing property, savings, investments and other assets
- Establishing exactly what the wishes in the Will mean in practical terms
Quantifying any debts or liabilities
- Preparing the required Inheritance Tax information
Applying for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
Collecting or transferring assets
Arranging payment of debts, expenses and tax
Communicating with beneficiaries
Preparing estate accounts
Distributing the estate correctly
If you have already started administering the estate yourself or just need help with some aspects we can still help. We can also help if you want to change your probate lawyer. Please contact us to discuss your situation.
HOW IT WORKS
Get in touch to arrange a call with Rebecca
Call 01643 802263, Email enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk or use this form to Request a Call Back ›
Arrange a free, no-obligation, 15-minute initial phone consultation with Rebecca. You can discuss your options and decide if our service is right for you.
Understand your options
Rebecca will talk through the situation in detail and explain everything in plain English.
You will gain clarity on exactly what Rebecca will do and how much it will cost. She can also estimate timescale and advise on any other considerations.
We take care of the legal work
Rebecca and her team take care of every aspect of the process. You can be confident everything is handled properly: valuing assets, applying for probate (if needed), completing the Inheritance Tax return, and managing beneficiaries.
We’ll keep you updated as the administration progresses towards completion.
Rebecca Padgett, TEP, FCILEx, LLB (Hons), ILFM (Dip)
About Rebecca Padgett
Rebecca Padgett has specialised in probate and estate administration for over eighteen years. In that time she has assisted many families with estates of all types – from the straightforward to the complex.
It had long been Rebecca’s ambition to establish a firm focussed solely on law for individuals and families. Probate, estate administration, Wills, trusts, and lasting powers of attorney are areas of law that can be deeply personal. Rebecca understands these matters require sensitivity as well as specialist legal expertise.
Rebecca is a Solicitor and Chartered Legal Executive. She is also a full member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners). Rebecca combines technical expertise with a pragmatic and practical approach. Many clients say they find her manner reassuring at what can be a difficult time.
When you instruct R J Padgett, you deal with Rebecca personally throughout the estate administration process.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Probate and Estate Administration - FAQs
- Do I need a solicitor to apply for probate?
- Do I have to use the solicitor who prepared the Will?
- Can you help if I have already started the probate process?
- Can you help with probate if I live outside Somerset?
- How much does probate cost?
- How long does probate and estate administration take?
Do I need a solicitor to apply for probate?
No, you do not have to use a solicitor to apply for probate. If you are an executor named in the Will, you can apply for the Grant of Probate and administer the estate yourself.
Some executors feel they want to administer the estate themselves and have the time and skills to deal with the process. Others prefer to instruct a solicitor because estate administration can involve legal, tax and practical responsibilities. Executors are accountable to the beneficiaries and can be personally liable if the estate is not administered correctly.
You can choose how much help you need. We can assist with obtaining the Grant of Probate only, deal with the entire estate administration, or help with particular aspects of the process.
Do I have to use the solicitor who prepared the Will?
No. If you are an executor, you do not usually have to use the solicitors who prepared the Will to obtain probate or administer the estate. The executors are responsible for the administration and can decide whether to deal with it themselves or instruct another solicitor.
The position is different if the firm or one of its solicitors is also named as an executor in the Will. You can ask whether they are willing to renounce their appointment so that another executor can apply for probate. Renunciation is permanent and may not be appropriate or available if the executor has already become involved in administering the estate.
The firm may charge for preparing the necessary paperwork to renounce. We can review the position, explain your options and contact the existing solicitors where appropriate.
Can you help if I have already started the probate process?
Yes. We can usually step in at any stage of the probate or estate administration process.
Common reasons for asking us to help include:
- difficulty interpreting the Will;
- questions about Inheritance Tax;
- concerns that something may have been missed;
- difficulties dealing with beneficiaries;
- problems with a solicitor currently administering the estate; or
- a trust that needs to be reviewed or closed.
We will review what has already been done, explain the next steps and agree how much of the remaining work you would like us to handle.
For more information about life interest trusts, disabled beneficiary trusts, older Nil Rate Band discretionary trusts and other trusts arising after death, see our winding up a trust service.
Can you help with probate if I live outside Somerset?
Yes. We can help with probate and estate administration throughout England and Wales. You do not need to live near our Somerset office, and it is not usually necessary to visit us in person.
Meetings can be held by telephone or video call, and documents can be exchanged securely or sent by post. We will keep you informed in whichever way works best for you.
How much does probate cost?
The cost depends on the size and complexity of the estate and how much help you would like us to provide.
You can see our probate pricing examples above. These include our Grant of Probate service and complete estate administration service.
For a more detailed explanation of our fees, the work included and possible additional costs, see our Probate and Estate Administration Price and Services Information.
After an initial discussion, we will explain the appropriate service and provide a written quotation so you understand the likely costs before deciding whether to proceed.
How long does probate and estate administration take?
For a straightforward estate, obtaining the Grant of Probate commonly takes between two and six months from the time work begins. This includes establishing the value of the estate, dealing with any required tax reporting and preparing the probate application.
Once a completed application has been submitted, the Probate Registry advises that a Grant is usually issued within 12 weeks. It can take longer if further information is required.
Estates involving Inheritance Tax generally take longer. A detailed Inheritance Tax account may need to be prepared and submitted to HMRC. Also payment of any tax due must begin before the probate application can proceed.
Completing the full estate administration takes longer than obtaining the Grant alone. The overall timescale can depend on matters such as selling property, collecting investments, resolving tax affairs, tracing or communicating with beneficiaries, dealing with trusts, and handling any claims against the estate.
Once we understand the estate, we will explain the likely stages and give you an indication of the expected timescale.
Not sure how much probate help you need?
You don’t need to decide which service you require – or have all the estate paperwork ready – before contacting us. A short initial conversation can help you understand what needs to be done and whether professional help would be useful.
Arrange a free 15-minute phone consultation with Rebecca. She’ll discuss your situation, explain the likely next steps, and outline how we could help and what it may cost. There is no obligation to proceed – it is simply an opportunity to get a clearer picture and decide on the right way forward.
Request a free call with Rebecca ›
Prefer to speak to our friendly team?
01643 802 263 · enquiries@rjpadgett.co.uk
Regulation
R J Padgett Limited is authorised by CILEx Regulation for Probate.
Authorisation number 3002949.
Information Hub
Visit our information hub for more details about our services, including:
• CILEx Regulation Authorisation & the CILEx Regulation Compensation Fund • Professional Indemnity Insurance • Price and services information • Complaints Procedure • Terms of Business • Privacy Notice • Interest Policy
Visit the Information Hub by clicking here ›