Do my parents need to make any changes to their Will?

sagalout1954

If you get the figures "wrong", then so will the Probate company, seeing as they'll get all the figures from you/Mum. The only difference is instead of YOU filling in the HMRC form for free, it's the Probate company filling it in with YOUR figures and charging 8k for the privilege! Which of course, will include Barclays big fat commission.

To me the whole thing is a no brainer, particularly after reading both the probate and HMRC forms. At worst a solicitor quoted me approx £500 to do it - less than 1/3rd of the Probate firm.

The only 'trouble' I can see myself getting into is if I've lied anywhere on the form, or fail to resubmit the tax form if I've forgotten or undervalued anything on it which would push the estate up into the IHT bracket (or make more IHT due) - not a problem if the estate is passing from your Dad to your Mum (or for us as we're well short of IHT).

You get so much freebie help to complete the forms (not least from the accompanying guides), but other websites and helpline numbers, it would have to be a very complex estate indeed before I coughed up £1800k........let alone 8k. HMRC have a probate number though they can't deal with hypothetical questions, they can help with what should/shouldn't go where.

Give it a go, good luck (but you won't need it).