The following
checklist will be helpful to prepare for your first appointment with a lawyer
who is working with you to get probate.
They might ask you
for some other things, but this is a good start point:
- Full name, address, and date
of birth of the deceased.
2. Date of death and
copy of the death certificate.
3. The Will if there is
one.
4. Names, addresses and
contact details of Executors if there are any.
5. Details of the
deceased's assets, which could include things like house, bank accounts, shares
and other investments.
6. Details of any debts
the deceased may have such as Credit cards.
7. Funeral expenses.
8. What property, such
as a house, is jointly owned with someone else.
9. Details of the
deceased's income such as pensions or dividends.
It is worth getting what paperwork you can together on all of this before you speak to the lawyer so that you can, for example, give a good idea of what bank accounts there are and how much is in them. But don't delay in instructing a lawyer while you do that because much of it will be obtained during the probate process. The first discussion with the lawyer is just to give them the basic details and an idea of the estate.
