Probate Explained

Probate is the process of administering the estate of a deceased person, including valuing individual assets for inheritance tax purposes. Some assets are easy to value, e.g. bank accounts, stocks and shares. Other items may require the help of a professional valuer.

HMRC recently made some amendments to its guidance on the valuation of individual items within an estate, announcing a £1,000 increase in the threshold of personal items that are liable for Inheritance Tax. Having previously suggested that professional valuations should be sought for only those individual items with an expected value of more than £500, this threshold has now risen to £1,500.

If executors believe individual items within an estate are likely to be worth more than £1,500, HMRC’s advice is to seek a professional valuation of the relevant items. It is important that insurance valuations are not used for this purpose and that a specialist probate valuation based on the likely open market value is required. HMRC also advise that if the value of a particular item is unknown, it is best to seek a professional probate valuation to be certain of the correct level of value.

HMRC offers some guides to help complete probate forms:

Download HMRC guide to filling in Inheritance Tax Form 205

Download HMRC guide to completing Inheritance Tax Form 400

A sensitive and sympathetic approach to probate valuations

As someone who has been valuing cars and bikes professionally for over thirty years and maintains a significant personal collection of classic cars and motorcycles, I am aware of how difficult it could be for loved ones who do not share my passion to value and dispose of my vintage car and bike collection in the event of my death. I am also mindful that they may not be in the ideal emotional state place to manage this after my passing.

I provide a sympathetic probate valuation service based on decades of experience. A background of regular instruction as an expert witness to UK law courts, with no ulterior motives to obtain or dispose of your assets means you can trust me to get the job done swiftly and with minimum stress.

Email me to discuss or arrange a probate valuation or to get advice on how to value and sell a deceased person’s motorcycle. For larger collections, it may be easier to value in person and the cost should not be prohibitive. Contact me to discuss this.