Phase 0 of 5
About the Estate
Let's start with the basics. These help us understand the shape of the administration ahead.
When someone dies, navigating the legal process can be unfamiliar. The Navigator is a free diagnostic from Arvéla. It walks you through the five phases of estate administration, helps you understand what is involved, and shows you the options, from handling things yourself to instructing a regulated solicitor for the legal work. Arvéla does not provide regulated legal services itself.
A Will names who should deal with the estate (the executor) and who should inherit. Without one, the law decides both. This is called "intestacy."
The executor is the person the Will appoints to manage the estate. If you're not named, the named executor may need to act, or you may need to apply to the court for authority.
Without a Will, the estate follows the rules of intestacy. A close family member, usually a spouse, civil partner, or child, will need to apply to the Probate Registry for a "Grant of Letters of Administration" to gain the legal authority to deal with the estate.
This includes children (of any age), anyone financially dependent on them, or anyone they had a responsibility to maintain, including from a previous relationship.
An approximate date is fine. This helps us flag any time-sensitive steps.
Phase 1 of 5
Gathering the Full Picture
This is the most important phase, and often the most time-consuming. Before anything else can happen, every asset needs to be found, every debt identified, and everything properly valued.
Rushing this step is the single most common cause of problems later in an estate administration. The good news: there are clear processes for every type of asset. It is just a matter of working through them methodically.
Select all that apply. Don't worry if you're not sure about everything. Part of this phase is finding out what exists.
Joint assets (like a jointly-owned house or joint bank account) often pass automatically to the surviving owner and may not form part of the estate, but they still need to be identified and reported for tax purposes.
This includes being a company director, shareholder, sole trader, or partner in a business. Business interests can significantly affect both the complexity and the timeline of the administration.
Overseas property, bank accounts, or investments in another country may need a separate grant of probate in that jurisdiction.
Mortgages, credit cards, loans, unpaid bills, guarantees. Debts must be paid from the estate before anything is distributed to beneficiaries.
Cryptocurrency, online business accounts, domain names, or digital collections. These require specialist handling for access and valuation.
Gifts made within seven years of death may be subject to inheritance tax. This includes gifts of money, property, or other assets, but not small birthday or Christmas gifts.
Phase 2 of 5
IHT & Court Application
Before you can collect assets, you will usually need a Grant from the Probate Registry. Before that, any inheritance tax due must be assessed and (often) paid.
This is where many people feel out of their depth. The good news: not every estate needs a full IHT account, and not every estate pays inheritance tax. Let's work out where this one sits.
Include everything: property, savings, investments, personal possessions, life insurance payable to the estate, even assets that pass outside the Will (like joint property). A rough estimate is fine at this stage.
Property ownership affects the residence nil-rate band, an additional IHT allowance that may be available if the home passes to direct descendants.
If the first spouse left everything to the survivor, their nil-rate band may be transferable, potentially doubling the threshold to £650,000. If you are not sure, that is completely normal. It can be investigated.
Based on what you have told us, this estate may have an inheritance tax liability. IHT must be assessed, and often partially paid, before the Probate Registry will issue a Grant. This is an area where professional support can make a significant difference.
Phase 3 of 5
Collecting Assets & Settling Liabilities
Once the Grant is issued, you have the legal authority to collect the estate's assets, pay its debts, and begin distributing to beneficiaries.
This phase is where the practical work happens. Every bank needs notifying, every investment needs encashing or transferring, and every debt needs paying, in the right order. Getting the sequence wrong can create personal liability for the executor.
Selling a property from an estate involves conveyancing, potential capital gains tax, and can affect the timeline significantly, especially if a beneficiary is living in the property.
This includes anyone who inherits under the Will (or under intestacy rules if there is no Will), whether they receive a specific item, a sum of money, or a share of the residuary estate.
This might include disputes about what the Will means, who should inherit, whether the Will should be challenged, or disagreements about selling or keeping assets. Even family tension can delay an estate.
Some Wills create trusts. For example, a life interest trust allowing a spouse to live in the property, or a discretionary trust for children. Trusts add reporting and registration obligations.
For example: mortgage payments on a property being sold, utility bills, insurance premiums, storage costs, or any guarantees the deceased gave.
Phase 4 of 5
Tax & Final Distribution
Before final distributions, the estate's own tax position needs resolving. After that, a clear set of accounts is prepared for the beneficiaries.
Many people don't realise that the estate itself can be a taxpayer. Income received after death, and any gains made on assets sold during administration, may create tax liabilities that need to be reported and paid before final distribution.
Rental income, dividend payments, interest on savings, pension income received after death. Even small amounts need to be considered.
If a property or investment is sold for more than it was worth on the date of death, the estate may owe capital gains tax on the difference. The estate has its own annual CGT exemption.
Gifts to charity are exempt from inheritance tax. If 10% or more of the net estate goes to charity, the IHT rate on the rest may reduce from 40% to 36%.
This affects the complexity of the estate accounts. Each beneficiary is entitled to see a full breakdown of what came in, what went out, and how their share was calculated.
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Your Results
Estate Administration Summary
Based on what you've told us, here's an overview of the administration ahead and the options available to you.
What's available right now
Grant-Only Probate and full estate administration are available to instruct today, through Arvéla's chosen legal service provider. The five phase guides and the Probate Pro self-help tool are not live yet, but launching shortly. If either of those fits your route, leave your email at the bottom of this page and we will let you know the moment they go live.
The Five Phases Ahead
Estate administration breaks down into five distinct phases. Each has its own paperwork, decisions, and risk points.
Things to Be Aware Of
Each of these is something that adds friction or risk to the administration. None of them are dealbreakers. They are just things to know.
⚠️ Inheritance Tax May Apply
Based on the estate value and other factors you have described, inheritance tax is likely to be a factor. IHT must be assessed, and often partially paid, before the Probate Registry will issue a Grant. This is an area where specialist advice can make a real difference, both in ensuring compliance and in identifying any available reliefs or exemptions.
Recommended for you
No penalty for trying. The engagement letter sets out, in writing, exactly what is included and what it costs before you commit to anything.
Other ways to handle this
You don't have to take the recommendation. Here are the alternative routes for this estate.
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The Navigator is a free diagnostic from Arvéla (a trading name of Cascade Legal Ltd) for general information. It is not legal advice, and Arvéla does not provide regulated legal services.
Regulated legal work, including the grant application and any IHT return, is delivered by Arvéla's chosen legal service provider. See Your Legal Services for current provider details.