Probate

Helping you with probate

WH Putnam Funeral Directors is working with the National Bereavement Service (NBS), a not-for-profit organisation, to assist and support customers and their families. NBS provides practical advice post funeral to help when dealing with legal issues, many of which may be unfamiliar.

Probate is a legal term which means the official proving of a will. You ‘apply for probate’ to have the legal right to deal with someone’s land, property, money and possessions, in other words their ‘estate’.

If the person that has passed away has made a will, they will have appointed an Executor, and may have even identified a legal firm to deal with the probate. Fortunately in most cases the process is simple and straightforward. We can help if you need guidance on DIY probate. If there is no will it can be a little more complicated and the will is resolved according to the Rules of Intestacy.

How to apply

To apply for probate you make the application to the Probate Registry and this gives the Executors named in the application the authority to act in the administration of the estate of the deceased. There are a number of stages to go through when dealing with the administration process and it can vary depending on where you are in the UK.

NBS can help guide you through all of this, call them free on 0800 0246 121 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm or visit them at www.theNBS.org where you’ll find more useful information. 

Useful links:

Applying for probate

Intestacy – Who inherits when there is no will?

Dealing the estate of someone who has died

Valuing the estate of someone who has died

Stopping a probate application

Cremations

We can assist you in every step of the funeral and cremation arrangements so please ask us about any queries you may have.

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Funeral prices vary depending on the type of ceremony you would like for your loved one. There are many options to choose from to make it unique and special.

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Need advice?

WH Putnam Funeral Directors can assist you in every step of the funeral so please don’t hesitate to ask us about any aspects or queries you may have.

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Featured Reviews

Google

Thank you to Paula and Georgie (Burnt Oak branch) for all your help and professionalism in the organising of my mum's funeral. (Hazel Griffith). Even though it was a sad occasion, you made the process very straight forward and kept me updated all of the…

Caroline Caz

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We are extremely grateful to Sophie and Putnam staff for their kindness, professionalism and support. Their expertise and knowledge helped make coordinating services and the repatriation of my brother a little easier.

Shannon Griffin

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The Team of Lee, Cassie & Sophie were amazing. Through a very sad and stressful period they were all helpful, kind and accommodating. Their knowledge and advice helped my whole family. I would recommend this firm if your unfortunate to need their services.…

Steve Heslin

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This was the first time using WH Putnam (Streatfield Road) and we would like to thank not only Sophie, Cassie and Lee but the whole WH Putnam team who took care of my mum from her collection through to the day of the funeral. The…

Marion Guglielmi

Google

The lovely staff at Putnam - Cassie, Lee and Sophie - did a wonderful job looking after us, while organising our parents' funerals in July 2024 and February 2026. They patiently explained everything to us and never rushed us to get the final arrangements confirmed.…

Michelle

Google

Thanks to cassie, sophie for going through the process of organising my mums funeral ( agnes copplestone ) and to lee on thr day the serrvice was held , especially having mums relations coming down from her home town from ellon nr aberdeen , its…

Andrew Copplestone

Google

I want to thank paula lee and the whole team for helping me lay my father to rest without tou guys i dont know what i wpuld of done , i want to thankyou for bringing my dad all the way from croydon to be…

diamond sapphire mendez

Google

Excellent. Very professional and made the whole sad experience very easy.

Philip Burdock

Google

Sophie in the Harrow branch was lovely; she took time to explain the process, charges and all aspects of the funeral and managed to arrange a date that suited us.

Mary Ulicsak

Google

Dear Paula Lee and team. Thank you for arranging my mother s funeral, you did an amazing job from start to finish. The whole funeral was very special as a family we can’t thank you all enough for executing the funeral to such an amazingly…

Nicholas Darling

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