Benefits of probate complete service

Benefits of our Probate Complete Service include:

1. We take full responsibility

We take full responsibility for obtaining the Grant of Probate and dealing with the Legal, Tax (excluding VAT), Property and Estate administration affairs on your behalf.

2. Award winning probate service

Co-op Legal Services has been named Probate Provider of the Year 2018 and Highly Commended in 2019 at the British Wills and Probate Awards.

3. We can pay all the costs of a Co-op funeral

We can settle the cost of a Co-op Funeralcare funeral and reimburse any deposit paid, as soon as you have instructed us to represent you; providing that the Estate owns sufficient assets which can be sold in due course to repay our costs.

4. We only deal with probate

We deal with over £500 million in Estates every year and many of our Probate Solicitors and Case Managers are members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, so you can be assured of our expertise in looking after your Probate case. The regional, cultural and sociological differences in our Probate customer base means that we frequently deal with diverse and complex Probate matters.

In addition, we spend our entire time working on Probate cases rather than any other legal work, as a high-street Solicitor might, meaning that our experience is 100% specific to Probate.

5. Quality of probate advice

We assist around 100,000 families with bereavement services across England and Wales every year, so we understand what questions that you might have at this confusing and distressing time. Our on-going Probate training and research ensures that we can provide clear and comprehensive advice, guidance and support.

6. Face to face consultation

One of our Probate Consultants can meet you face to face at your home or a location of your choice (in England or Wales) to discuss the Estate administration. We find that for many people it’s easier, and often feels friendlier, to remain in a familiar and comfortable environment when discussing the loss of a loved one.

7. Easy to contact

We'll provide you with a Probate Case Manager who is easy to contact, and we will provide regular updates and respond to your communications in a timely manner. The entire process is handled through the communication method of your choice, including post, telephone, email or text messages.

8. Local probate experts

Our Probate Consultants are based across England and Wales and each has a personal understanding of their local area and culture. The Probate case work is carried out at our central offices, and there is no need for you to visit either a Probate Registry office or our offices.

9. Established relationship

We pride ourselves on providing a comprehensive Probate service from start to finish. Our Probate Advisors, who take the initial details, work closely with our Probate Consultants, sharing the relevant information. Then a dedicated Probate Case Manager will deal with your Probate case from start to finish, so there is always a single point of contact for you.

10. Co-op values

We are part of the world’s largest consumer co-operative, valuing above all else openness, honesty, social responsibility and caring for others. Co-op Legal Services is the largest provider of Probate and Estate administration services in England and Wales and are focused on providing an excellent service to mirror the values of the Co-op Group.

11. Fixed fee probate service

We offer a fixed Probate fee upfront so you know exactly how much the costs are from the outset, plus disbursement costs. A clear breakdown of Probate services and fees is provided and there are no hidden costs. Our Probate fees are not charged on an hourly basis.

12. We are insured

Co-op Legal Services have insurance covering all of our work plus we have protection of Client Money under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

For more information please see Probate Complete Service.

Specialist probate solicitors

Many of our Probate Solicitors, Lawyers and Probate Case Managers are members of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP). All STEP members are subject to an extensive Code of Professional Conduct, requiring them at all times to act with integrity and in a manner that inspires the confidence, respect and trust of their clients and of the wider community.

Probate Solicitors and Local Probate Consultants are available in England and Wales only for customers using our Probate Complete Service.

Co-op Legal Services has over 600 staff working in different businesses with offices in Manchester, Bristol, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sheffield and London.