The probate process can be complicated and time-consuming, especially for law firms. In this blog, we will highlight some of the challenges faced by law firms during the probate process and how the National Will Register can help.
Challenges Faced by Law Firms during Probate Process
- Identifying the existence of a Will: One of the biggest challenges faced by law firms during probate is identifying whether the deceased had a valid Will. This is because not all Wills are registered, and it can be difficult to locate them.
- Tracking down beneficiaries: Another challenge is locating all the beneficiaries named in the Will or following the rules of intestacy. This can be especially difficult if the Will is old or if the beneficiaries have moved since it was written.
- Dealing with disputes: Disputes can arise during the probate process, particularly if there is no Will or if there are disagreements about its validity. These disputes can be time-consuming and costly to resolve.
How the National Will Register Can Help
The National Will Register UK’s Will Registration and Certainty Will Search service that stores crucial information about Wills that have been registered. It can help simplify the probate process by making it easier for law firms to identify whether a Will exists and where it is located. Here are some of the ways the National Will Register can help law firms:
- Identifying registered Wills: The National Will Register allows law firms to search for registered Wills using the deceased’s name. This makes it much easier to identify whether a Will exists and where it is located.
- Identifying Wills that have not been registered: A Will Search Combined includes a REACH Search, which is a nationwide, geographically targeted search for Wills that have not been registered amongst law firms and Professional Will Writers from IPW and SWW.
- Supporting disputes: By making it easier to identify whether a Will or later Will exists and when it was written, the National Will Register can help to support disputes during the probate process. This can save law firms time and money.
In conclusion, the probate process can be complicated and time-consuming, but the National Will Register can help to simplify it for law firms. By allowing law firms to easily identify registered Wills and locate beneficiaries, the National Will Register can save time and reduce disputes during the probate process. If you are a law firm dealing with probate, we highly recommend considering the National Will Register to make the process easier and more efficient.