Get Your Loved One's Estate Settled by an Executry Solicitor
You're Grieving. We'll Handle the Legal Maze.
When banks freeze accounts, Sheriff Court forms get rejected, and property sales stall — we take the burden off your shoulders. Compassionate executry services trusted by Lanarkshire families for over 55 years.
Or simply call us on 01698 747171 to have a friendly chat.
Losing someone is hard enough. And on top of the grief, you’re suddenly expected to navigate frozen bank accounts, Sheriff Court paperwork, creditor demands, and a property sale that won’t move until you have something called “confirmation.” Nobody warned you it would be this complicated.
Here’s what we want you to know: you don’t have to figure this out on your own. Estate administration in Scotland — what’s known as an executry — is genuinely complex, and the people who struggle most aren’t the ones who lack intelligence. They’re the ones trying to carry everything themselves whilst grieving.
At Lanarkshire Law Practice, we handle 2–3 estates every week. We’ve seen every situation — from accounts frozen the day after death to DIY confirmation applications rejected months in, to house sales on the verge of collapse. We know exactly what needs to happen, and we’ll take the whole legal burden away from you.
You focus on your family. We’ll handle the paperwork.
What Happens When an Estate Isn't Sorted Properly
When someone dies in Scotland, their assets — bank accounts, property, savings, investments — are legally frozen until a process called confirmation is granted by the Sheriff Court. Until that happens, nobody has legal authority to access anything. And the longer it takes, the more expensive and stressful the situation becomes.
Bills accumulate on empty properties. Council tax on an inherited house can run to £100 or more per month. Mortgage payments continue. Creditors chase. And all the while, you’re fielding calls from beneficiaries asking, “When will this be sorted?”
Many families try to handle it themselves. They Google the process, download the Sheriff Court forms, and spend weeks gathering documents — only to have the application rejected for a valuation error, missing paperwork, or incorrect legal terminology. Months of effort, wasted. And the bills are still piling up.
Some don’t realise that using the deceased’s debit card to pay their bills — however practical it seemed — is technically illegal without legal authority. Some assume joint ownership of a property means no legal work is needed. Some wait, hoping it’ll sort itself out.
We’ve seen the consequences. And we’ve helped hundreds of families fix them. It’s always harder, more costly, and more distressing than it needed to be — but it’s always fixable. You just need the right people in your corner.
How We Make Executries Straightforward for You
Sorting an estate with us is far less complicated than going it alone. We take on the legal complexity — every form, every creditor, every court submission — and handle it properly whilst keeping you informed at every step. Here’s what makes us different:
We take the legal burden completely off you
Once you instruct us, we handle the full process: Sheriff Court confirmation applications, asset valuations, creditor negotiations, tax compliance, account closures, and distribution to beneficiaries. You’ll receive regular updates, but you won’t have to do the work. Our clients consistently tell us: “They really took the stress away.”
We rescue DIY attempts that have gone wrong
Tried it yourself and hit a wall? Did the court reject your forms? You’re not alone — and you’re not in trouble. Google makes the process look manageable, but Scottish executry law has traps everywhere. We fix rejected confirmation applications every week. Just bring what you’ve done so far, and we’ll take it from there — without judgment, without fuss.
We keep property sales moving
Because we’re also estate agents, we can value, market, and sell an inherited property under one roof. No delays waiting for other solicitors. No miscommunication between separate professionals. No house sales falling through because confirmation isn’t sorted in time. It all happens in one coordinated process — and our clients tell us this alone saves months of stress.
We can come to you if that's easier
If you’re elderly, unwell, or unable to travel, we offer home visits across Bellshill, Motherwell, Coatbridge, Viewpark, and the surrounding areas of North Lanarkshire. You don’t have to face a formal office during one of the hardest periods of your life. We’ll come to you.
We've been doing this for over 55 years
Lanarkshire families have trusted us through generations. We’ve settled estates for parents, helped their children through the process, and now we’re working with grandchildren. That continuity matters — it means we’re not going anywhere, and when your family needs us, we’ll still be here.
Or simply call us on 01698 747171 to have a friendly chat.
What Our Clients Say
Trusted Locally
- 2–3 estates settled every week by our experienced solicitors
- 4.8/5 stars on Trustpilot and Google Reviews
- Over 55 years serving Lanarkshire families
- One of only two practices in Bellshill offering the full range of estate and property services under one roof
Get Your Estate Sorted in Three Clear Steps
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s how we work.
1. Get in touch
Call us on 01698 747171, fill in the enquiry form, or book your free assessment online. We’ll arrange a time that suits you, including home visits if you’re unable to travel. Bring whatever paperwork you have.
2. We take over the legal work
Once you instruct us, we handle everything: Sheriff Court confirmation applications, asset valuations, creditor negotiations, tax compliance, account closures, and distribution to beneficiaries. If there’s a property to sell, our estate agency team coordinates that too — all under one roof. You’ll receive regular updates, but the legal burden is ours, not yours.
3. Estate settled, funds released, chapter closed
Once confirmation is granted, we’ll distribute the estate according to the will — or intestacy rules if there was no will — settle all outstanding debts, close accounts, and provide a complete record. Most straightforward estates are resolved within 3–6 months. We’ll give you an honest timeline upfront and keep you informed if anything changes.
How Much Does Executry Work Cost?
We believe in transparency. You’ll know what you’re paying before you commit — no surprise bills, no inflated fees.
Executry fees depend on the complexity of the estate: the number and type of assets, whether there’s a will, outstanding debts, and whether a property needs to be sold. Most straightforward estates range from £2,000 to £5,000 + VAT. Complex estates — those involving multiple properties, inheritance tax, or family disputes — will be quoted clearly after your free assessment.
All pricing includes the confirmation application, creditor correspondence, asset distribution, and regular progress updates throughout the process.
Our fees are independently audited — we won’t run up the bill.
Need a clear number before you decide? Book your free estate assessment, and we’ll give you an honest estimate based on your situation, with no obligation to proceed.
Or simply call us on 01698 747171 to have a friendly chat.
- Plain English throughout — no confusing legal jargon, ever
- Transparent, audited fees — you’ll know the cost upfront, with no hidden surprises
- DIY rescue — we fix rejected confirmation applications every week, without judgment
- One-roof convenience — estate legal work and property sales handled together
- Home visits available — we come to you if travelling is difficult
- Local and trusted — over 55 years serving Lanarkshire families
- Named, approachable solicitors — you’ll work with real people who know your case
- Regular updates — you’ll always know where things stand
Commonly Asked Questions
"How much will this actually cost? I'm worried about fees eating into the estate."
We understand the concern — and we take it seriously. After your free assessment, we’ll give you a clear fee estimate before you commit to anything. Our fees are independently audited, and we won’t pad the bill with unnecessary work. Clients consistently tell us, “I expected it to cost more.” What we’d also ask you to consider is that every month an estate sits unresolved, costs accumulate. Council tax on an empty property runs to around £100 per month. Creditors charge interest. Property sales stall and buyers walk away. The cost of delay is often higher than the cost of getting it sorted properly.
"Can't I just do this myself? Google makes it look straightforward."
Some people manage it — and we’ll always support you if that’s your preference. But a significant number of DIY applications are rejected by Sheriff Courts for valuation errors, missing documentation, or incorrect legal terminology. When that happens, you’ve lost weeks or months, accumulated more bills, and you’ll still need a solicitor to fix it — often at a higher total cost than instructing one from the start. Our clients who tried DIY first almost universally say the same thing: “I wish I’d just called you sooner.”
"I've been using mum's debit card to pay her bills. Am I in trouble?"
It’s a very common situation, and it’s almost always done with the best of intentions. Technically, using a deceased person’s bank account without legal authority isn’t permitted — but it’s fixable. The important thing now is to stop, get proper legal authority through confirmation, and regularise the position. We’ll walk you through exactly what needs to happen, calmly and without judgment. You’re not the first person to have done this, and you won’t be the last.
"I'm not ready to deal with all this yet. I'm still grieving."
We understand — and grief doesn’t run on a legal timetable. You don’t have to do everything today. But here’s what we’d gently suggest: a free conversation costs you nothing and gives you a clear picture of what needs to happen and when. That alone often brings more peace of mind than continuing to avoid it. You don’t have to instruct us on the spot. Just knowing the path forward can be a genuine relief.
"The family can't agree on things. Will involving a solicitor make it worse?"
In our experience, it usually makes it better. When we administer an estate, we act for the estate itself — not for any individual sibling or beneficiary. That means transparent records, regular updates to all parties, independently audited fees, and a clear legal framework that removes ambiguity. Neutral professional administration frequently prevents disagreements from escalating into formal disputes. We’ve settled estates where family members were barely speaking when they first came to us.
"I live outside Scotland — can you still handle this?"
Yes. We regularly work with executors living elsewhere in the UK or overseas. We act locally on your behalf for everything: court submissions, creditor negotiations, property sales, and bank correspondence. You’ll get regular email updates, video consultation options, and straightforward communication so you’re never in the dark — even from a distance.
Why Choose Lanarkshire Law Practice Over Other Solicitors
We're not a big Glasgow firm
You won’t feel intimidated, and you won’t pay prestige prices. We’re local, accessible, and trusted by Lanarkshire families precisely because we make difficult legal matters feel manageable — not overwhelming.
We're not a faceless online service
You’ll work with real solicitors who know Scottish executry law inside out, who will call you back when they say they will, and who understand that behind every estate is a family navigating one of the hardest moments of their lives.
We're not just a legal practice
We’re also estate agents. That means if a property needs to be valued, marketed, and sold, we handle it in-house, in coordination with the legal side, so nothing falls through the cracks. No waiting for other solicitors. No miscommunication between separate firms. Just one team, working in the same direction.
We don't judge you for where things stand
Whether you’ve waited six months, made mistakes on forms, used the wrong accounts, or simply don’t know where to start — we’re not here to lecture you. We’re here to sort it, quickly and without fuss.
What Makes Sorting an Executry Urgent
You’re here now because something has happened that means this can’t wait any longer. Maybe the bank has frozen the accounts. Maybe the Sheriff Court rejected your forms. Maybe a buyer is threatening to pull out of the house sale. Maybe the council tax demands are mounting on an empty property.
Whatever brought you to this page — don’t let that urgency fade.
Executry matters don’t resolve themselves. Delays cost real money: in council tax, creditor interest, missed property sales, and accumulated legal complexity. Every month that passes without action is a month that makes the eventual resolution harder and more expensive.
You don’t need to have all the answers before you call us. You just need to take the first step.
Call us, book your free assessment, or fill in the enquiry form. A conversation could save your family months of stress, thousands in avoidable costs, and a great deal of heartache.
You've Been Carrying This Long Enough. Let's Get It Sorted.
Settling an estate doesn’t need to be this overwhelming, this expensive, or this drawn out. It just needs to be handled properly — and we make that straightforward.
One free assessment. Plain English. No judgment. Sorted.
Or simply call us on 01698 747171 to have a friendly chat.
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