What are Probate fees?  Probate record fees are created when someone dies.

Why should I care?

In many cases, these fees are usually minimum.  Because the probate fees are levied in the process of
outlining to the person responsible for an estate how to distribute the assets of the deceased, in the case of estates that are small in assets or clear in the case of an up to date will, or there is a clear next of kin like spouse of children.

In other cases however, there are complex estates where the probate fees can go beyond the basic costs.  If an individual dies without leaving behind a will, then the courts may need to step in to determine how that person’s assets should be divided, and this is where probate fees start to kick in. The best way to reduce the potential probate cost faced by your next of kin is to prepare a will, and make sure that the will is checked over by a solicitor.

If your estate includes major assets like property, business assets or other similar types of large value items, it is important to consult an attorney in order to clearly define what you wish to accomplish with your will and make sure it can be honored by the executor of estate.  The legal fees that you will incur for this may be off-putting, but they will be worthwhile â€“ especially when you consider that you will be saving your next of kin from probate fees, which would be an extra, and unnecessary, worry for them at what is already a difficult time.

When do I not need a probate

Probates  may not be needed, if you have very little assets to leave behind, or if you are married and plan to leave everything to your spouse. However, if you wish to divide your assets in a specific way, and want to make sure that those wishes are honoured, then you will need to go through probate and therefore incur some probate cost.

This is why it is important to plan ahead.  Consult with a licensed professional, which in this case could be an attorney or solicitor.  It will provide peace of mind to you and your loved ones during a difficult time and it will assure you that they are protected and the assets go to the right person.