If you’ve been named as an executor, one of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to manage probate yourself or appoint a solicitor. It’s a question more and more people are asking, especially as online guidance and DIY resources become more accessible.
To help you make an informed choice, we asked Lauren Clyne, a partner at Kuits Solicitors and a specialist in estate administration, for her advice. With over 15 years’ experience handling complex estates, including those involving international assets and trusts, Lauren knows exactly where things can go wrong, and how to get them right.
In this article we explore when DIY probate might be appropriate, when professional help is worth the cost, and how a hybrid approach can offer the best of both worlds.
When DIY Probate Might Be an Option
Probate is a legal process, and with that comes responsibility. But for some estates, particularly simpler ones, it may be possible to manage the process yourself, if you’re prepared to take the time to understand the rules and meet the deadlines.
You might consider a DIY approach if:
- The estate is straightforward, with just a few bank accounts, no trusts, and no overseas assets.
- There’s no inheritance tax to pay, or the allowances are clearly within limits.
- The family is in agreement, and no disputes are expected.
You’re comfortable dealing with official forms and paperwork.
That said, even straightforward estates can throw up surprises. As Lauren Clyne explains “It’s not just about efficiency, it’s about accuracy. Executors are legally responsible for what’s submitted to HMRC, and even innocent mistakes can lead to penalties”.
For those who do go down the DIY route, knowing when to get professional input, on valuations, tax forms, or tricky legal points, can make all the difference.
When to Involve a Solicitor
Even if you’re confident in your ability to manage paperwork, probate can quickly become complex. Tax thresholds, lifetime gifts, foreign assets, family tensions, any one of these can introduce legal or financial risks that make professional input essential.
Lauren Clyne, an expert in estate planning, has worked on high-value and contested estates for over 15 years. Her advice is clear:
“For higher-value estates, we’d recommend that executors seek professional support to ensure all available allowances and exemptions are correctly applied, particularly when inheritance tax is in play or the deceased made significant lifetime gifts.”
In recent years Lauren has also seen a rise in disputes, especially in blended families or when expectations differ from what the will provides for:
“Taking early legal advice can help prevent claims under the Inheritance Act or challenges to the will’s validity, and can give executors confidence in defending their decisions.”
She also says:
“If you have to transfer assets as part of probate, particularly property or investments, then we certainly recommend that you engage professional support. We have dealt with problem files when assets have not been correctly transferred as part of probate. This only becomes apparent down the line – often at a time when something needs to happen urgently.
The compliance requirements of asset holders when assets are being transferred can also be very difficult to manage without professional help.”
Even for those opting to manage probate themselves, Lauren suggests a hybrid approach: get targeted advice when needed, particularly for inheritance tax, complex assets, or potential disputes.
Weighing Up the Costs and Risks
Choosing between DIY probate and professional help isn’t just a financial decision, it’s about risk, responsibility, and peace of mind.
Going it alone might save money on solicitor fees, especially for modest estates. But the trade-off is time, pressure, and the risk of errors. Executors are personally liable for mistakes, whether that’s underreporting an asset, missing a tax allowance, or misjudging the deadlines.
Using a solicitor offers reassurance, particularly when:
- There’s inheritance tax involved.
- The estate includes valuable or unusual assets.
- There’s potential for family disagreement.
- The executor is unsure of the legal process.
- There are assets that are going to be transferred.
But professional support doesn’t have to mean handing everything over. As Lauren notes, many executors now choose a middle ground: managing simpler admin tasks themselves, but bringing in experts for valuations, inheritance tax forms, or legal advice on specific issues.
This hybrid approach often delivers the best of both worlds, keeping costs down without compromising on accuracy or compliance.
Personal Possessions: A Key Step You Shouldn’t Overlook
Regardless of whether you’re using a solicitor or handling probate yourself, HMRC expects all personal possessions (known as “chattels”) to be valued and declared. That includes everything from jewellery and antiques to furniture, silverware, and even garden tools.
Even lower-value items need to be accounted for as part of the estate’s overall worth. And while not every single item must be listed individually, anything with a likely value over £1,500 typically should be.
Getting these figures wrong, or relying on guesswork or old insurance values, can raise red flags with HMRC and delay the process. Their Shares and Assets Valuation team may step in to investigate discrepancies or ask for supporting evidence.
At Swift Values, we provide HMRC-compliant valuations designed specifically for probate. From just £25 for individual items or £99 for full house contents, we help executors meet their obligations without unnecessary cost or complexity. Our reports are clear, compliant, and defensible, giving you confidence that you’ve got it right.
Final Thoughts – Know When to Ask for Help
Probate isn’t just paperwork, it’s a legal and financial responsibility that deserves care. While some estates are simple enough to manage without a solicitor, many benefit from professional support, especially when tax, valuations, or family dynamics come into play.
As Lauren Clyne explains, even executors who feel confident can protect themselves, and the estate, by getting expert input at key moments. Whether that’s a one-off legal question, inheritance tax advice, or making sure your valuations stand up to HMRC scrutiny, the right help at the right time can prevent costly mistakes.
At Swift Values, we’re here to support that process with accurate, affordable chattel valuations tailored to your needs. And if you need legal guidance, you can speak directly to Lauren:
Lauren Clyne – Partner – Tax & Estate Planning
0161 912 6172
Between expert legal advice and HMRC-compliant valuations, you don’t have to choose between DIY and doing it right.