HWB becomes one of first in region to obtain probate licence
Leading accountancy firm HWB has become one of the first accountancy practices in the region to obtain a licence to undertake probate work.
HWB, which is based in Chandler's Ford and is one of the largest independent firms in the region, has been awarded the licence by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Estates and private client tax specialist Stacey Steele and tax director Tracy Jenkins have both qualified to undertake probate work and are now fully accredited with ICAEW.
Probate is the process of administering a person’s estate and possessions after they have died and has traditionally been carried out by solicitors. A change in the law means licensed accountancy practices are now able to carry out non-contentious probate.
Jenkins said: “We are delighted to be one of the first accountancy practices in the area to be awarded a licence to undertake probate work.
“The firm has a highly-regarded specialism in estate planning and inheritance tax, so probate is a natural complement to what we do here at HWB.
“This is an addition to our existing services and puts us in a position to handle virtually all estate administration. Losing a loved one is hard enough and this licence will mean we can offer a seamless service to clients without the need for part of the administration process to be dealt with by a solicitor.”
Steele said: “Handling an estate is not a ‘one size fits all’ process and we believe it is important to make sure clients receive the right advice and support, tailored to their own circumstances.
“A real advantage of this new service is its flexibility – so we can assist clients and their families with as much or as little as they need across a range of services, including handling taxation issues, completing IHT forms and selling assets of the estate.”
Jenkins and Steele will be working with the firm’s growing client base across Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset and Wiltshire.
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