Probate

We have been with SGD for just over 10 years professionally and over 30 years as a family. These stats alone should speak volumes. We continue to experience a level of service and professionalism usually only associated with far larger Firms. With SGD, customers retain their name and do not merely become an account number that gets lost between the cracks – as happens with so many other Accountancy Firms. SGD retains talent which gives total peace of mind as a customer; SGD has expertise in everything you need. We would highly recommend them.

We have worked with Spencer Gardner Dickins for many years, and our experience has been consistently excellent. The team is highly professional, reliable and responsive, while always maintaining a genuinely personal and appreciative approach. Their advice is pragmatic, well considered and delivered with a clear understanding of our business.

We greatly value the long-standing relationship and would have no hesitation in recommending Spencer Gardner Dickins.

SGD have been fantastic at advising our business through a phase of rapid growth. Demsey, Charles, Becky and the rest of the team have been supportive, responsive and diligent. We would not hesitate to recommend.

I’ve been using Spencer Gardner Dickins for the past 13 years and have always been extremely pleased with the service they’ve provided. The team is professional, knowledgeable, and highly responsive, giving me complete confidence that my accounts and tax affairs are in safe hands. They have continually delivered an excellent level of service and have built a relationship based on trust and reliability.

My organisation has been connected with SGD for well over a decade. Their service has always been of the highest quality and professionalism. I thoroughly recommend their services to any other businesses looking for an accountancy firm to act for them. Thank you!

Would highly recommend, the advice and support navigating complex systems has made this process much easier. Thank you to Ryan for your quick responses and patience.

SGD have really helped with consolidating my finances, highly recommend to anyone self employed looking to offload that added stress that comes with it.

Been a client of theirs for a few years now and the service has always been great. Would definitely recommend.

I have been a client of Spencer Gardner Dickins for nearly 20 years, and they have consistently delivered a first-class service. Their team is professional, highly reliable, and always proactive. If you are looking for accountants you can trust for the long term, I cannot recommend them highly

Very customer-focused, and prioritise rapport and relationship over anything.

SGD have looked after our family and our various businesses for years. I don’t know what we would do without their professionalism or their kindness

Very prompt and extremely helpful in all dealings

Paul Spencer and the team at SGD handled my father’s probate process with a level of clarity, professionalism, and calm reassurance that made a sad and potentially stressful situation far easier to manage.

Communication was consistently clear and timely, and I always felt confident that matters were being handled thoroughly and efficiently. The team combined strong technical expertise with a genuinely personal approach, which made a real difference throughout the process.

I would not hesitate to recommend SGD to others requiring probate or private client services.

Dealing with bereavement at the same time as dealing with probate can be overwhelming.

My parents’ estate, whilst not huge, was complex and the death of a sibling left me as the person left to deal with HMRC. Paul and his team took a lot of that worry and pressure away, offering sound and practical advice at every step.

Professional valuations were required, which Paul sorted for me, alongside advising me of other documentation and ISA valuations that were necessary.

I worried about timescales and interest on the estate but everything was dealt with in a timely and informative manner by SGD, which meant I could sleep at night.

Paul had a meeting with myself and the other executor explaining both the potential Inheritance Tax liabilities and the roles that we needed to perform to ensure my mother’s wishes are met.

I felt confident that when the HMRC return for the Inheritance Tax had been completed it was to the very best of my and Paul’s team’s ability.

My sadness is that HMRC is unable to match such a superb service.

I would highly recommend Paul and SGD for their care and professionalism, both for the probate application and their human care towards myself and immediate family.

During a very difficult time SGD provided technical expertise and genuine personal support.

They explained the probate process clearly at the outset, outlining realistic timeframes and took responsibility for gathering information, instructing valuations and dealing directly with third parties, which was invaluable.

I was kept informed throughout the process and didn’t feel uncertain about where in the process we were. By the time the estate had been administered I had every confidence that every detail had been addressed.

Their professionalism and compassion made this challenging process far easier to manage.

My case was fairly straightforward, with no unusual assets, but it still felt quite overwhelming for me at the time.

SGD met with us early on and explained the probate process in a clear, easy-to-understand way. They set out what I needed to provide and what they would take care of, which made things feel much more manageable. The Inheritance Tax forms were completed, the tax was calculated and the probate application submitted smoothly.

Once probate was granted, I decided to handle the estate administration myself, but I felt comfortable doing so because everything had been prepared correctly.

Their calm, practical support and attention to detail really helped me feel confident throughout.

My godmother asked me years ago to be her Executor and when she died in July 2024 I and my fellow executors were totally daunted by the task. Valued at over £4 million, with bank accounts and assets in both the US, Italy and the UK, dealing with her estate was going to be challenging. The estate included a considerable amount of artwork and artefacts from China which required valuations from experienced professionals. There was also substantial charitable involvement and overseas trust assets held in America.

When we approached SGD to manage the process they were not phased. In fact we three Executors heaved a sigh of collective relief as SGD knuckled down to what had to be done, keeping us informed and up to speed at every stage. SGD dealt with the situation with professionalism and genuine compassion. The process was clearly set out and realistic timelines were explained, which made an otherwise daunting situation feel easier to understand. Valuations for both the artwork and property were coordinated, and SGD also liaised with institutions in Jersey and America regarding the American trust assets, which needed specific international consideration.

Given the complexity of the estate, it took time to gather all the information and verify everything properly. The personal tax partner came in person to examine 30 years of paperwork and documentation. It was reassuring to us that he took the time to make this visit, which showed great attention to detail.

Throughout the process, we received regular updates. There were Teams meetings whenever pressing issues arose. We had face-to-face meetings in London to review the estate and discuss the distribution strategy. The knotty issue of charitable bequests was also tackled efficiently. Inheritance Tax calculations, the submission of the necessary IHT forms and the probate application were all handled efficiently.

Now that probate has been granted and we are moving into the administration phase, we feel confident knowing that everything has been handled thoroughly. I don’t believe that we could have got to this point without SGD’s help.

It was reassuring to know that SGD had a long-standing relationship with our aunty and uncle, so when the day came when he passed away, we had the support that we needed from day one.

SGD added clarity regarding the deceased’s domicile status and carefully considered the tax planning around this. They provided clear explanations and guidance from the outset and set out what information was needed.

They have been proactive in contacting third parties and collating information, and although the applications are still in progress, we feel confident that these are being managed correctly and thoroughly.

SGD had a long-standing relationship with our Dad, and so when he passed away, it was reassuring to know we had the support that we needed from day one. Dealing with probate can be overwhelming. Losing a loved one is hard enough without facing the paperwork, arranging valuations and all the legal processes that come with dealing with the estate of a family member.

From our first meeting, everything was clearly explained. We were given realistic timeframes and were provided with a clear list of the information we needed to provide, and SGD confirmed what they would obtain directly on our behalf. This included instructing third parties for valuations. The assurance that we had from that very first meeting immediately lifted a weight from us. The pricing was outlined in a very transparent manner, giving us comfort over the expected costs.

The team at SGD are handling the completion of the Inheritance Tax forms, will calculate the IHT position and at the appropriate time will prepare the probate application, while keeping us updated regularly. They have also chased financial institutions and other third parties on our behalf, which removed a significant burden during a very difficult time.

The compassion they have shown, and their professional approach and steady guidance have made an emotional process far more manageable.