Help centre / Desk / Legal work
Wind up an estate
Each estate matter keeps the deceased’s details, what the estate holds and owes, and every payment in and out. From that Desk makes the estate accounts and gets the figures ready for the probate application or, in Scotland, confirmation.
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Start the estate
Go to Matters
Open the matter and choose Estate down its side. Choose Whose law it’s wound up under and press Start.
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Add the deceased’s details
Under Deceased, fill in their names, last address, dates of birth and death, and whether there’s a will. Add each executor with their name and address, then press Save.
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List the assets and liabilities
Under Assets and liabilities, add each one with its Description, its Value at death and Where it is. When an asset is sold, add what it was Realised for.
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Record money in and out
Under Money in and out, add each receipt and payment with its Amount and date, and say whether it’s Capital or Income.
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Make the accounts
Under Accounts, press Make the accounts. Desk files them on the matter as a PDF, from assets at death through to what’s left to distribute. Press Make them again after any change.
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Get ready for probate or confirmation
In England and Wales, Probate application lists each figure the application asks for, with Copy beside it. In Scotland, Confirmation checks the C1 and C5 figures against the inventory and tells you anything still to fill in.
If something goes wrong
A confirmation check says the C1 total doesn’t match the inventory. An asset is missing, has no value, or the C1 total was typed differently. Check the assets list and the C1 inventory total under Deceased.
Still stuck? Write to [email protected] and we'll get back to you.