Testimonials & Client Stories
Below are examples of just some of the many testimonials we receive from customers who have used our services, whether we’ve helped them with Probate, Inheritance Tax or Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Google Reviews
Katie Brazier
08:32 04 Nov 25
Helpful, friendly & efficient. Provided peace of mind that application was submitted correctly and resulted in a grant of probate within two weeks, which was incredibly helpful to ensure property sale could continue without too much delay. Thank you. Would definitely recommend.
Jennifer Pittam
11:35 30 Oct 25
I sent for Berkeley Weston's DIY Probate pack when my father died. I chose the 'hard copy' version, detailed explanation and flow chart, immediately named 'the Probate Snake' by our family. For most straightforward probate situations this free pack would have been sufficient.
In our case, we did need to consult Phil Weston, very clear fixed fee and knowledgeable guidance, especially with the IHT400 Tax Form meant that, when probate was applied for we achieved it in just over two weeks.
I have no hesitation in recommending this friendly but professional service.
In our case, we did need to consult Phil Weston, very clear fixed fee and knowledgeable guidance, especially with the IHT400 Tax Form meant that, when probate was applied for we achieved it in just over two weeks.
I have no hesitation in recommending this friendly but professional service.
Jane Lancashire
16:57 09 Oct 25
Excellent service received, would highly recommend for making the probate process so much easier at an already difficult time.
picklepop100
11:59 03 Oct 25
Berkeley Weston LTD did a first class job in getting my grant of probate for me. The inheritance tax forms were a minefield because getting them wrong means I would have had to pay tens of thousands of IHT. Sarah and Phil were very pleasant to deal with and they are very professional and basically very good at what they do. I can't recommend them highly enough.
Gerry
Gerry
Alistair Dabbs
09:47 01 Oct 25
Probate granted after just three weeks, despite the lack of a Will. BW were worth every penny to ensure a clean application. The reassuring guidance by phone and email was invaluable too.
Chris Staples
13:53 29 Sep 25
I found it to be an excellent service, easy to follow guidance with Berkeley Weston doing the more complicated part of accurately assessing what you are entitled to and the completion of the IHT400 form, as well as the submission and following through the processes to complete the Probate. My late Mum's estate was finalised with funds received exactly 6 months to the day after her death and that was without rushing at any point. Whilst you could do it all yourself for free I feel that the payment we made to Berkeley Weston for their assistance was money well spent and I have no hesitation in recommending them.
Dave Stuart
12:49 23 Sep 25
These guys know what they are doing. Their service is fast, easy to understand and much less expensive than my lawyer was quoting. I will recommend them to anyone who asks me in the future. Thank you Berleley Weston.
Maria Scattergood
08:49 23 Sep 25
I had no idea where to start with probate, particularly as my late husband had no will. My only previous experiences had been dealing with my parents estate which went through solicitors at great cost. I came across Berkeley Weston and decided to try the free telephone advice call. Samantha was so helpful and friendly that I decided to proceed with their assisted probate service. After completing some straightforward calls and opening an account with the Probate registry, I had a video call with Phil who had prefilled the application for me so all I needed to do was check the details, sign and pay the probate register fee. I couldn't believe how simple and painless it was and furthermore I received confirmation that my application was accepted within 6 days! All of this for a fraction of the cost and the time that that the process takes through solicitors, would highly recommend.
Edward Gill
12:34 22 Sep 25
If you are looking for help dealing with probate then I would whole heartedly endorse Phil, Sam and the Team at Berkeley Weston. We were recommended them by a family friend, who had used them previously and it was honestly the best piece of advice we received. Knowledgable. responsive, reliable and cost effective.
Leni
17:36 18 Sep 25
Our experience with Phil and his colleagues has been fantastic. Was quoted an unholy sum of money from the family solicitor for dealing with the estate. Worse than that was the timeframe given. We decided to take it on ourselves with the help of Phil and even with some delays from one of the asset holders, we still managed to get whole process from sorting IHT to receiving probate complete within a couple of months. The ongoing support is also invaluable. Thank you guys!!!
Richard Malthouse
09:34 16 Sep 25
I have had two experiences of Berkeley Weston DIY Probate. Both very positive. The first was using the "base" DIY service. This worked remarkably well, even though I was a "newbie" to dealing with estates - and resulted in a very smooth and speedy achievement of Probate. Far faster than the lawyers suggested - and at a very small fraction of their estimated cost. The second was the assisted service - where Phil Weston becomes more hands on. Again a very smooth process - and at around a seventh of the quote from solicitors. Thanks Berkeley Weston & Phil.
Happy Friends
07:22 06 Sep 25
At such a difficult time after my husband’s passing I found the service Phil and his team offer with the DIY probate simple and reassuring. I was able to get Probate approved in just 2 weeks! Great value for money and peace of mind.
Jeremy Lane
22:30 27 Aug 25
What a truly excellent service. Using the DIY pack, I filled in as much as I could, then sent the forms back to Berkeley Weston on 4th June and paid for the assisted service (which was still considerably cheaper than I had been quoted locally). I didn't even have to wait two weeks; 13 days later, probate was granted on 17th June!
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Oli Watson
12:52 25 Aug 25
The team were very knowledgeable and efficient. Probate was granted ahead of expected timescale.
Ian
09:20 14 Aug 25
Very good information although not easy to follow some items. Some information what I considered important was missing. Overall the information provided helped. Was it worth the money yes I think so as it did provide information.
Andrew Redpath
11:44 31 Jul 25
Phil was worth every penny. He probably saved me 4 months of extra stress and 4 months of interest on the tax payable. My late father's solicitor wanted an eye-watering amount in fees. Phil is an expert in probate, so glad I found him. Really good team; I would highly recommend.
Karin Rutter
10:10 25 Jul 25
Berkeley Weston were recommended to me - the best recommendation I've ever got! They were First Class, from start to finish: Professional, personable and absolutely the Best! They made the whole complicated process clear and simple. Easy to contact and always available. I would highly recommend to anyone- peace of mind alone. In the first instance Barkeley Weston's DIY Probate Pack was exceptional. Well written, clear and most useful.
Jeff Jones
14:30 24 Jul 25
What can I say, Phil and his associates are so professional, I applied for Phils Probate pack which I came across after the sad death of my father, it was a minefield but after purchasing his pack, which is a bargain IMHO and reading it studiously and collecting all the required documents and completing the GOV online Probate application I managed to complete and obtain the `Grant of Probate` within 6 weeks, I will recommend Phils Probate pack to anyone who needs professional help at such a dreadful time as losing a loved one, Thanks a million Phil !!
-Mark Brown ( son of Dennis Brown)
-Mark Brown ( son of Dennis Brown)
Neil Vaux
17:23 11 Jul 25
I lost my father earlier this year and started to think about probate, fairly simple I thought, asked one or two companies and received differing advice, and quotes for several thousands of pounds, mmm. Mentioned this to one of my trusted customers who without hesitation mentioned Berkeley Weston, he has used them twice, he sent me their details.
I have not been disapointed, they keep things simple and hold your hand as you navigate through the paperwork required, I had two phone calls and a zoom call, done. They gave one or two pointers and filled out the online application for me, Probate granted in two weeks.
They made it seem so easy, but then, they do know what they are doing. Money well spent for trustworthy honest advice, I would reommend Berkeley Weston Ltd and Phil Weston to friends and family.
I have not been disapointed, they keep things simple and hold your hand as you navigate through the paperwork required, I had two phone calls and a zoom call, done. They gave one or two pointers and filled out the online application for me, Probate granted in two weeks.
They made it seem so easy, but then, they do know what they are doing. Money well spent for trustworthy honest advice, I would reommend Berkeley Weston Ltd and Phil Weston to friends and family.
Peter Coppock
14:26 23 Jun 25
The Berkeley Weston Assisted Probate service really took the worry out of getting Probate for my mother in law’s estate. Not only that but Probate was granted in about a week. Phil and his team all offered friendly and professional advice. Really good value.
Anil Pandya
10:12 23 Jun 25
I can’t praise Phil Weston enough.
He made the whole process of applying for probate after my father died so easy for me and was there if I had any questions about the process.
Within 2 weeks of me sending in the request paperwork I had confirmation that the probate had been granted.
Thank you again Phil.
I wish I could give you more than 5 stars.
Anil Pandya
He made the whole process of applying for probate after my father died so easy for me and was there if I had any questions about the process.
Within 2 weeks of me sending in the request paperwork I had confirmation that the probate had been granted.
Thank you again Phil.
I wish I could give you more than 5 stars.
Anil Pandya
Ian P
22:17 05 Jun 25
I had intended to obtain probate in respect of my late sister as I thought it would be quite straightforward. However, it soon became apparent that it was going to be a complex and stressful process and I needed a qualified professional person who specialised in this area to act on my behalf.
I did some research and found Phil Weston had over 20 successful years of experience in this field. From my initial telephone conversation with Phil I knew that I had made the right decision in asking for his help and guidance. He put me at ease straight away and I chose to use his Assisted Probate Service. Phil dealt with the entire process and the IHT submission was approved straight away. Once I had paid HMRC the amount of inheritance tax required, Phil submitted the probate application on 16th May 2025 and it was approved on 31st May.
If you are looking for a professional, courteous and friendly person to obtain probate on your behalf I would recommend Phil Weston and his team without hesitation.
Thank you Phil.
I did some research and found Phil Weston had over 20 successful years of experience in this field. From my initial telephone conversation with Phil I knew that I had made the right decision in asking for his help and guidance. He put me at ease straight away and I chose to use his Assisted Probate Service. Phil dealt with the entire process and the IHT submission was approved straight away. Once I had paid HMRC the amount of inheritance tax required, Phil submitted the probate application on 16th May 2025 and it was approved on 31st May.
If you are looking for a professional, courteous and friendly person to obtain probate on your behalf I would recommend Phil Weston and his team without hesitation.
Thank you Phil.
Jonathan Battersby
13:26 04 Jun 25
Decided to use Berkeley Weston after first seeing them online, but especially after a first phone call with Samantha who was not only excellent, but really friendly and knowledgeable of my fairly complex (well to me anyway) double IHT and Probate application.
She immediately put my mind at rest with what we needed to do and when, so after the IHT forms were sent in and IHT paid, I applied for Probate on the 19th May via a video call with the excellent Phil, and here I am just 14 days later with Probate granted. No fuss, no mistakes, just a completely smooth process from start to finish.
Can't recommend them highly enough, and, more to the point, it cost me exactly a third of the majority of other quotes I'd had from Solicitors and some of the big Probate specialist companies when shopping around.....
She immediately put my mind at rest with what we needed to do and when, so after the IHT forms were sent in and IHT paid, I applied for Probate on the 19th May via a video call with the excellent Phil, and here I am just 14 days later with Probate granted. No fuss, no mistakes, just a completely smooth process from start to finish.
Can't recommend them highly enough, and, more to the point, it cost me exactly a third of the majority of other quotes I'd had from Solicitors and some of the big Probate specialist companies when shopping around.....
SUSAN DAVIES
18:54 03 Jun 25
An excellent service. Never having dealt with probate, it can seem overwhelming, I came across Berkeley Weston online, they offered a professional service at a competitive price , also quicker than using a solicitor. From the first phone call I was put
at ease & they carried me through the probate application process with precise & helpful instructions.
Phil, Samantha & Sarah are true professionals, I would not hesitate to recommend Berkeley Weston.
at ease & they carried me through the probate application process with precise & helpful instructions.
Phil, Samantha & Sarah are true professionals, I would not hesitate to recommend Berkeley Weston.
Carol Foster
10:17 03 Jun 25
Diane and I would like to thank you and your team for the help with the assisted probate applications for both Mum and Dad (Leslie and Lona Foster) who passed away within eight months of one another.
Both were handled promptly and professionally and probate was received quickly.
It was nice to deal with you personally via the internet and we would not hesitate in recommending your services to others.
Both were handled promptly and professionally and probate was received quickly.
It was nice to deal with you personally via the internet and we would not hesitate in recommending your services to others.
Russell Hitchcock
09:44 02 Jun 25
I have previous experience of probate applications, and I know them to be, in some cases extremely complex, time consuming ( my mothers took 9 months) oh and stressful too. Phil helped me enormously, made things very easy, stress free and lo and behold from application to grant was 14 days, a miracle to my mind…take the pain away, use Phil, he’s fantastic….
John Rhodes
17:25 30 May 25
I am so happy with the help I have received from Phill. I had started to do the whole progress of getting probate for my late wifes estate. I had started to complete the on line application and after going from the first stage to the second, and had to confirm facts I had entered, I got cold feet and decided that maybe some help might be a good Idea. After seeing Phill's website I decided this was the person who could put my mind at rest. I telephoned Phill's company and spoke with a very helpful person who answored some questions I had regarding the information I had answored on the on line application only to find I had misunderstood what was required on one of the sections.
I submitted all the information regarding my late wife's estate for Phill to deal with, and a few days later I had an on line consultation with Phill. He ran through what I had sbmitted and had corrected my mistakes. . My application was submitted, I sent off the necessary documents to the Probate office and low and behold 10 days later after answoring a query from probate office I was granted probate.
I now need to contact one of Phill's colleague's to find what steps I need to take to finalise the estate.
I am quite sure I have saved a considerable amount of money using Phill's DIY service
Since getting probate I had a half hour follow up conversation with Phil's colleague Samantha who was very helpful with advice and. Information about dealing with the trusts within the will what we could and what we couldn't do, I am still able to give Samantha a phone call to clarify any point I am unsure about
I submitted all the information regarding my late wife's estate for Phill to deal with, and a few days later I had an on line consultation with Phill. He ran through what I had sbmitted and had corrected my mistakes. . My application was submitted, I sent off the necessary documents to the Probate office and low and behold 10 days later after answoring a query from probate office I was granted probate.
I now need to contact one of Phill's colleague's to find what steps I need to take to finalise the estate.
I am quite sure I have saved a considerable amount of money using Phill's DIY service
Since getting probate I had a half hour follow up conversation with Phil's colleague Samantha who was very helpful with advice and. Information about dealing with the trusts within the will what we could and what we couldn't do, I am still able to give Samantha a phone call to clarify any point I am unsure about
Carolyn Hutchison
15:40 21 May 25
I found the DIY Probate Guide extremely useful along with more information online. I used the Assisted Probate which was very reassuring. Phil Weston & Samantha Petit were extremely helpful & only a phone call away if needed. I would definitely recommend.
Peter Jones
09:44 15 Apr 25
The probate guide was excellent and very good value for money. It was well written with clear instructions and easy to read. The ability to ask for advice or to hand the process over to Berkley Weston was a big plus.
Steve Lewis
09:26 15 Apr 25
I used this guide to complete probate on my father's estate when he died in November 2024. The guide made the process a lot more straightforward and easy and I didn't need any additional outside help to obtain the grant of probate. I've since been named as an executor in another will, so obtaining this guide was very timely.
Grant Perry
12:04 15 Mar 25
Dear Mr Weston and Team
This is another commendation to add to the ones already sent to you by satisfied customers.
My Mother passed away at the end of August and named me as an executor. I did initially consider doing all the Probate myself, but having struggled with the online Form for a while I started to worry, because some questions were not very clear. I found Berkeley Weston's DIY Probate service online and contacted you. My first email from you was on 1st November. I filled out the details necessary for the PA1 Probate Form and returned it to you. When you sent the completed PA1 back to me I noticed with interest that there were four questions I would have filled out wrongly, had I done it myself! Having signed the PA1 Form I returned it to you.
I was delighted to receive my Letters of Grant of Probate on 20th December - the whole process having taken less than two months.
I have already recommended you to friends who may need your service in the fairly near future, and will continue to do so, to anybody who needs help with filling out the PA1 ( probate) Form.
I will just add that when I contacted my solicitor to ask for his help, he told me it would cost about £4,000 for the cost of executing the Will of my Mother, and could take up to a year to complete.
Sincerely
Grant Perry
This is another commendation to add to the ones already sent to you by satisfied customers.
My Mother passed away at the end of August and named me as an executor. I did initially consider doing all the Probate myself, but having struggled with the online Form for a while I started to worry, because some questions were not very clear. I found Berkeley Weston's DIY Probate service online and contacted you. My first email from you was on 1st November. I filled out the details necessary for the PA1 Probate Form and returned it to you. When you sent the completed PA1 back to me I noticed with interest that there were four questions I would have filled out wrongly, had I done it myself! Having signed the PA1 Form I returned it to you.
I was delighted to receive my Letters of Grant of Probate on 20th December - the whole process having taken less than two months.
I have already recommended you to friends who may need your service in the fairly near future, and will continue to do so, to anybody who needs help with filling out the PA1 ( probate) Form.
I will just add that when I contacted my solicitor to ask for his help, he told me it would cost about £4,000 for the cost of executing the Will of my Mother, and could take up to a year to complete.
Sincerely
Grant Perry
Susan Barber
11:07 11 Mar 25
I thought this service was going to be too good to be true but, thankfully, I was wrong. Initially, I opted for the do-it-yourself option, which was a comprehensive pack but then following a telephone call with Sam P, I decided to go with the Assisted DIY Probate. Once we had collated all the information needed, we had a 'on line meet' with Phil who went through everything with us, and within half an hour or so, the application was finalised and posted out the same day. This was mid December, and we had Probate granted in the first week of January which was less than 4 weeks. An amazing service which Berkeley Weston made so much less daunting. Thank you to Phil and the BW Team.
Colette
14:00 10 Mar 25
Excellent, fast, hassle-free and cost-effective Assisted service with great advice and support from both Phil and Samantha. Definitely recommend using this service as they make it so easy at a decent price. (We had received a quote for five times the amount we paid to Berkeley Weston.)
Julia Leybourne
14:28 27 Feb 25
I found Berkeley Weston Ltd. DIY Probate by chance and I am so glad I did!
They have made the whole process much less stressful than I anticipated.
Their DIY pack is a mine of information at an exceptional price saving a lot of stress and keeping costs down.
I would definitely recommend Berkeley Weston Ltd. to any person needing assistance through the probate process.
They have made the whole process much less stressful than I anticipated.
Their DIY pack is a mine of information at an exceptional price saving a lot of stress and keeping costs down.
I would definitely recommend Berkeley Weston Ltd. to any person needing assistance through the probate process.
Beverley Crouch
12:54 26 Feb 25
The pack clearly explained the inheritance tax and probate process. The guidance in the pack enabled me to make my own submission saving time and money. I would thoroughly recommend the Berkeley Weston Ltd DIY Probate pack.
John McKay
13:42 11 Feb 25
Exceptional assistance and guidance in obtaining IHT400 clearance and Grant of Probate for my late wife’s estate. The process and form filling were rather daunting when one is at a personal low ebb. Berkley Weston aided this process and provided support which was much appreciated. Grant of Probate received in a much quicker time than I had expected.
Daphne Calver
16:36 03 Feb 25
I originally ordered the DIY Probate booklet and started following the steps. I had to do the inheritance tax and probate. I rang their office a couple of times and Samantha was very helpful and informative. I relised l was out of my depth and would feel much more confident if they were doing the legal work for me. Phil Weston took over for me and the inheritance tax and grant of probate were all completed in two months. I am extremely happy with their friendly and prompt service and would definitely recommend them.
Paul Baggott
11:16 03 Feb 25
We received the DIY Probate pack which looked good. But it was a stressful time so we decided to accept the assisted path which was very affordable.
We had a Zoom meeting with Phil during which he completed the Probate Application form with us and for us.
THIRTEEN DAYS LATER we received the Probate documents through the post. Easy peasy.
The follow up phone call with Samantha cleared our doubts and ignorance about Capital gains tax on the property that is to be sold later.
I recommend Phil and Berkeley/Wilson without reservation and they will be first in line if we ever need further legal assistance.
We had a Zoom meeting with Phil during which he completed the Probate Application form with us and for us.
THIRTEEN DAYS LATER we received the Probate documents through the post. Easy peasy.
The follow up phone call with Samantha cleared our doubts and ignorance about Capital gains tax on the property that is to be sold later.
I recommend Phil and Berkeley/Wilson without reservation and they will be first in line if we ever need further legal assistance.
Richard
13:44 02 Feb 25
Superb service so glad I decided to use Berkeley Weston.
Completely took the stress away at a difficult time .
Phil and Samantha were superb they made the whole process simple and stress free.
I would recommend them 100%
Thank you Phil and Samantha
Completely took the stress away at a difficult time .
Phil and Samantha were superb they made the whole process simple and stress free.
I would recommend them 100%
Thank you Phil and Samantha
Hong Tseung
10:45 11 Jan 25
A really excellent and cost effective service! The DIY Probate pack itself is brilliant, but we also used the Assisted Probate Service that was offered - this made it considerably easier for us, as it took all the pressure off, and the anxiety over which forms we needed to fill in. The cost was also considerably cheaper than going to a high street Probate Solicitor. Both Phil and Samantha were brilliant in explaining what was needed. The electronic templates they provided made it easier to know how to assess estate valuations for IHT. Communication throughout was excellent, and we were both prompted and well informed at each step. Phil completed the relevant IHT forms for us also and ensured we were happy with them before submission. It enabled us to obtain the Grant of Probate well ahead of expected schedule - in fact it only took 3 weeks after submission of the online probate application which Phil took us through step by step via video call. It included a post Probate meeting which was excellent and reassuring as to what final steps were needed to finalise estate matters I can highly recommend this service.
Adrian Harrison
13:39 08 Jan 25
The help we received from Berkeley Weston with obtaining Probate for my father-in-law’s estate was excellent. We were given lots of help with the process and getting Probate was then quite easy and quick. I would highly recommend them.
Neville Townsend
09:21 06 Jan 25
Dealing with Weston and Berkeley was very good in all aspects.
Having dealt with them previously 8 years ago for my late Father’s estate using the old paper/post method, which took nearly 3 months to complete.
This time in order to deal with my now late Mother’s estate, we chose to use the new online service with Phil Weston personally dealing with the Goverment gateway application via a video conference call.
This was so straightforward and professional at all times.
The granted probate was completed in just over 3 weeks !
Phil and his team deserve all the accolades going for making this difficult process of dealing with a loved ones estate so straightforward and professional.
Having dealt with them previously 8 years ago for my late Father’s estate using the old paper/post method, which took nearly 3 months to complete.
This time in order to deal with my now late Mother’s estate, we chose to use the new online service with Phil Weston personally dealing with the Goverment gateway application via a video conference call.
This was so straightforward and professional at all times.
The granted probate was completed in just over 3 weeks !
Phil and his team deserve all the accolades going for making this difficult process of dealing with a loved ones estate so straightforward and professional.
Peter Webster
11:12 26 Dec 24
An amazing source of information that will guide you in obtaining probate easily and swiftly. The information is given in stages so you are not overwhelmed in what needs doing. I really appreciated the various letter templates that are provided to enable you to contact relevant banks and other organisations. This is a five star product and the best book that I acquired before starting the probate process. I say book, but in reality I only really used the internet based version, which is even less overwhelming than the printed version. Thanks to the DIY Probate Pack I was able to move forward at each stage of the process with confidence, enabling probate to be obtained quicker than expected.
Peter Vosper
15:41 10 Dec 24
Hi Phil, Thank u so much for helping me applying for probate. My late sister lived in Birmingham but I reside in North Wales so it ceated a few problems to say the least. I find it difficult to travel so if was so helpful when I initially received your probate pack. Following on your service was excellent, the staff were very friendly and helpful and answered any problems that cropped up. Once again many thanks for your help and I would recommend your company any time.
Kind regards, Peter.
Kind regards, Peter.
Michael Grant
19:06 17 Nov 24
The DIY Pack was a great help to me being the Executor of my sister's estate. The detail has been clearly assembled by professionals with experience and clarity of thought as probate is a complex subject. It is extremely well written and a comprehensive insight how to navigate and accomplish grant of probate.An excellent product well worth the £29 price tag.
Lionel & Ruth Currie
13:26 01 Nov 24
The DIY Probate Pack was excellent.
It was very clear and easy to follow.
However, for my personal assurance I asked for help to complete everything and Phil and his staff could not have been more helpful.
I contacted them a few times and they were always available and willing to answer any queries.
As a firm I would strongly recommend them to anyone dealing with Probate issues.
R Lionel Currie
It was very clear and easy to follow.
However, for my personal assurance I asked for help to complete everything and Phil and his staff could not have been more helpful.
I contacted them a few times and they were always available and willing to answer any queries.
As a firm I would strongly recommend them to anyone dealing with Probate issues.
R Lionel Currie
john H
13:37 24 Oct 24
I was dubious about buying this Probate package, mainly because it seemed too good to be true. But I was wrong. This booklet, along with the offered backup is brilliant. The help and free tips and advice is second to none. And knowing that, if needed, you can just ring them and ask for help is so comforting, especially at your own, upsetting time. And their prices are so fair.
Great company.
Great company.
Jackie Gunn
12:06 08 Oct 24
Having previously worked as a book keeper and having run a small business for many years, the task of executor for my father in law's estate was not overly daunting. However, once started, and facing the staggering amount of forms to be completed, we quickly decided to use the Assisted Probate Service offered by Berkeley Weston. Phil and the team were on hand to guide us simply through the whole process and all for an extremely cost effective fee. Having submitted the necessary information to them, they handled the whole process for us very efficiently, providing help and advice or explanations whenever required. We are extremely grateful for the excellent service provided and would highly recommend this company.
Steve Chafer
15:39 07 Oct 24
Hello
I would just like to say how pleased we are with the service provided by Phil for our IHT probate application. Much cheaper than a solicitor and equally professional. He kept us informed all the way and as it turned out a very quick service from the probate office - probably due to the forms being properly filled in! We went for the full service and it has proved very worthwhile, a big thanks to Phil and his team.
I would just like to say how pleased we are with the service provided by Phil for our IHT probate application. Much cheaper than a solicitor and equally professional. He kept us informed all the way and as it turned out a very quick service from the probate office - probably due to the forms being properly filled in! We went for the full service and it has proved very worthwhile, a big thanks to Phil and his team.
Patricia Humphrey
00:30 28 Sep 24
Berkeley Weston Probate explanation helped me enormously. However, in the end I used their Assisted Probate Service and cannot recommend it too highly. At such a difficult point in my life, I was overwhelmed by everything required following the death of my husband, as many people will be. The DIY pack helped me to put the necessary financial information into place to apply for a Grant of Probate, so when I was ready to submit the application, I had gathered all relevant information. However, I took the option to use the Assisted Probate Service because other pressures were looming and I felt stuck like a rabbit in the headlights.
Berkeley Weston's service came to my rescue, submitted my Probate application and smoothed the way; My Grant of Probate came through within 1 month!!!
Excellent service at a fraction of the cost quoted by local solicitors.
Berkeley Weston's service came to my rescue, submitted my Probate application and smoothed the way; My Grant of Probate came through within 1 month!!!
Excellent service at a fraction of the cost quoted by local solicitors.
John and Sarah Hoffmann
19:30 26 Sep 24
A huge thank you Phil, you helped enormously with obtaining probate for my husband David
who died suddenly overseas. I was completely overwhelmed by the whole business. Phil and his team, in particular Eden, assisted me through the probate process with compassion and expertise. I couldn’t have done this without them. Despite complications with my husband’s Will, Probate was granted within a very short time. This was entirely due to the knowledge and professionalism of Phil and his team and I can’t praise them enough.
This process has brought home to me the fact that my own affairs, which are not straightforward, will need to be addressed. I can only hope that Phil and his team can guide me in this minefield also.
My heartfelt thanks to all at Berkeley Weston.
Eileen Jones
who died suddenly overseas. I was completely overwhelmed by the whole business. Phil and his team, in particular Eden, assisted me through the probate process with compassion and expertise. I couldn’t have done this without them. Despite complications with my husband’s Will, Probate was granted within a very short time. This was entirely due to the knowledge and professionalism of Phil and his team and I can’t praise them enough.
This process has brought home to me the fact that my own affairs, which are not straightforward, will need to be addressed. I can only hope that Phil and his team can guide me in this minefield also.
My heartfelt thanks to all at Berkeley Weston.
Eileen Jones
Tony Robinson
18:25 11 Sep 24
Phil, I would like to formally thank you and your team for the excellent service you provide expediting Probate. I have just received formal notification from HMCTS and am staggered at the turnaround for what wasn’t a straight forward case at all, just 3 months and a week since my first conversation with your colleague. Many thanks
Mike Hannah
11:09 11 Sep 24
I purchased the Berkeley Weston DIY Probate pack for £30 which provided some very useful information. Unfortunately I was tempted by their service for their legal experts to assist with the submission of my probate claim, promising a fast turnaround at a significantly lower cost than a solicitor would charge. I paid them the £900 for this service together with all the requested information and documentation. Rather than it being an accelerated service however, it took them weeks to submit the relevant forms to the probate office and after this lengthy delay they managed to provide them with incorrect information. They apparently couldn’t change this error and it was left for me to contact the probate office to rectify their error and to chase them for the relevant reference number. Probate was eventually granted but much later than if I’d done it myself or employed a solicitor. With regard to costs, their £900 charge was in fact only a few hundred pounds less than my solicitor would have charged and who would have taken complete responsibility for an accurate and timely submission. Phil Weston has completely ignored my complaint.
Alan Paterson
10:00 29 Aug 24
Excellent experience dealing with Berkeley Weston Ltd. Using the Guide I managed to obtain Probate online in less than four weeks.
I found the follow up telephone call from Berkeley Weston Ltd particularly helpful when my outstanding queries on procedure were answered.
Many thanks to the Staff members for their help.
I found the follow up telephone call from Berkeley Weston Ltd particularly helpful when my outstanding queries on procedure were answered.
Many thanks to the Staff members for their help.
Karen
07:30 28 Aug 24
I have used your DIY Probate pack, and found it very helpful in applying for probate by myself. On occasions when I doubted my capability to do so, your step by step instructions proved very useful.
Having submitted the application, and resigned to a wait of quite some time, I was very surprised and pleased to have probate granted just three weeks later!
So Phil, thank you so much for making a potentially difficult task understandable and achievable, and dare I say, fairly easy.
I have already recommended your DIY Probate pack to several people, and will continue to do so.
Having submitted the application, and resigned to a wait of quite some time, I was very surprised and pleased to have probate granted just three weeks later!
So Phil, thank you so much for making a potentially difficult task understandable and achievable, and dare I say, fairly easy.
I have already recommended your DIY Probate pack to several people, and will continue to do so.
Jeannie Mee
20:30 12 Aug 24
I can’t thank Phil Weston enough for the help and support he and his staff gave me with getting my husband’s Probate Granted. Their Assistance with the DIY process was outstanding, so I would recommend everyone to contact Berkeley Weston Services for help with their Probate requirements. I was saved several thousand pounds and I’m immensely grateful to them.
Zoe Saxon
13:04 23 Jul 24
I researched this company after being quoted £15,000 by a solicitor and cannot thank them enough. The service was efficient, kind and helpful nothing was to much trouble. They kept us informed every step of the process. I have also recommended them to a number of friends who also have had 5 star service from them. Do not waste your money on a solicitor.
Hazel Rallison
16:06 22 Jul 24
I was very pleasantly surprised to receive my Grant of Probate. Thanks to Phil Weston's DIY Guide to Probate, it was a reasonably straightforward process - time consuming and requiring concentration but, with his precise guidance throughout, never too much to cope with. Highly recommend!
Tim Freeman
14:22 15 Jul 24
We found the probate guide extremely useful when dealing with father’s estate.
Easy to follow, useful “dummy letters” helpful hints.
If you are going it alone we recommend.
Easy to follow, useful “dummy letters” helpful hints.
If you are going it alone we recommend.
Christine Jackson
09:08 15 Jul 24
This was my first experience of Probate and Phil's pack was extremely helpful, not to mention the reminder emails with hints and tips. I managed to complete the process singlehanded, with occasional questions to gov.uk websites, and was delighted that the Probate was granted within a few weeks with no issues. I would highly recommend this DIY pack.
Sally Kirwan
09:45 05 Jul 24
When my mother in law died in March, she had a prepaid funeral plan but we were unable to locate a will. The funeral plan provider offered to deal with probate for £3500 and I decided to research doing it myself. I found the Berkeley Weston DIY Probate option online, read the excellent reviews and decided to purchase it. What a great decision! The pack is comprehensive and gives advice on absolutely everything from start to finish. There was no will - but I followed their advice to instigate a search for one. This meant we had to wait 28 days for the search to complete but after that I followed the letters of administration process without a hitch. The pack contains sample letters which were really helpful and I used them along with following the guidelines provided. In addition to this, Berkeley Weston sent a few emails with useful hints and tips. We are now in July and have only one settlement outstanding. We have managed the whole process for slightly over £500 and therefore saved £3000. For anyone facing probate with trepidation, look no further than this exceptional service. I am absolutely delighted with it and highly recommend it.
MrMike
18:39 01 Jul 24
The Probate pack from Berkeley Weston was really informative and easy to read. Great customer service follow-up from Phil and colleagues with any queries or support requests.
Nigel Miller
13:42 14 Jun 24
As a retired accountant I have spent most of my working life completing a variety of forms for HMRC. TheInheritance Tax form was new to me, first attempt showed that an amount of tax would be due. A free consultation with Samantha from Berkeley Weston suggested that there would be no IHT due. I then took the option of their assisted probate. Having collated all of the assets, will and registrar’s certificates it was a great relief to send the entire package to Phil Weston. Now well on our way to Probate, at a cost we estimate as about 30% of traditional solicitor’s fees, we await the final documentation from the courts.
Gary Hill
12:34 03 Jun 24
I recently had cause to use this pack following my wife’s passing. I was impressed by the details of the pack and the fact it was delivered in two formats , both digitally ( and in the post) the former method meaning I could start straight away too. Particularly helpful was the ability to arrange phone calls with any queries which was really useful to help clarify and make progress on a couple of issues which were troubling me but turned out to be much easier to resolve as a result .
Yes I did use the additional probate submission service also as one or two items were conflicting and the last thing I wanted was to complicate or make mistakes with the actual application . Although I’m sure had I struggled on for another few weeks I might have got there on my own but the reassurance and service I received took all the doubts away and sped up the probate process which I found to be a tremendous relief when so many things were going on at a very difficult time . I feel that the pack was extremely good value as was the later service offered and I’ve saved hundreds if not thousands of pounds using this service.
Yes I did use the additional probate submission service also as one or two items were conflicting and the last thing I wanted was to complicate or make mistakes with the actual application . Although I’m sure had I struggled on for another few weeks I might have got there on my own but the reassurance and service I received took all the doubts away and sped up the probate process which I found to be a tremendous relief when so many things were going on at a very difficult time . I feel that the pack was extremely good value as was the later service offered and I’ve saved hundreds if not thousands of pounds using this service.
Christine Napthan
12:22 20 Apr 24
One is never fully ready to do something as big as this… I thought I was so bought the DIY Pack and got as far as I felt I could but but it became overwhelming. I needed to seek help which I’m so pleased I did. They were prompt with doing everything they had to do, polite so thankyou guys, Probate has been received. Chris
Desmond Hallas
13:56 29 Feb 24
I heartily recommend the Probate Help services of Berkeley Weston. I came to it "out of the blue",and was so pleased that I did. The help on offer was clearly explained; telephone links were arranged for individual clarification; the process was prompt and reliable. My relief was enormous. No regrets. First class.
Doug Woodward
10:27 28 Feb 24
Due to my father passing away in October 2023, it was his wish that I was to carry out the applications to HMRC together with Probate. This was for me was going to be daunting task. I was pretty good with figures for my work, but the HMRC forms were something different! Do this, go to that, go back to the first, etc, etc what a palava. Whereas the application form for probate after purchasing the DIY Probate pack from Phil Weston was very much easier. The pack is so well laid out in a step by step guide, complete with draft notification letters. I would have no reservations in recommending for anyone to purchase the DIY pack, what a great helpful tool. Many thanks Phil for making the application for probate a stressless task. After submitting the probate application mid December 23, I have just received confirmation that I have been granted probate and my father's estate wasn't straight forward.
Many thanks Phil.
Many thanks Phil.
Gordon Adam
12:02 01 Feb 24
The DIY Probate Guide and the support that Phil personally gave behind that is one of the best things I've ever bought. Now I'm eventually at the end of the probate process I really want to say thanks. The guide is written in easy language and takes you through it step by step. Yes you need to interpret for your own circumstances and it needs updating in some areas, but brilliant.
Steve Fortune
16:09 22 Jan 24
The DIY pack really tells you everything you need to know and if it's a straightforward and simple will then no reason you can't do your own probate. However, we chose to use the assisted service and it was excellent and good value for £900. We had a quote from another company which was £6000! I would recommend this company to anyone who needss probate help.
mike divers
11:38 02 Jan 24
On 29.12.2023 15:13, Mike wrote:
Hi Phil,
Just thought I’d drop you a note to say thank you. We received probate today 7 weeks and two days after submission. It took me two months prior to submission to track down accounts and share holdings.
I found the package gave me the confidence to do the submission myself and your speedy response to my query about how to deal with a gift allowance was really helpful.
Just got to complete the actual release of funds, share transfers and estate accounting but your guide gives me all the signposts.
I’d certainly recommend the package. £29 well spent.
Thanks again.
Mike
Sent from my iPhone
Hi Phil,
Just thought I’d drop you a note to say thank you. We received probate today 7 weeks and two days after submission. It took me two months prior to submission to track down accounts and share holdings.
I found the package gave me the confidence to do the submission myself and your speedy response to my query about how to deal with a gift allowance was really helpful.
Just got to complete the actual release of funds, share transfers and estate accounting but your guide gives me all the signposts.
I’d certainly recommend the package. £29 well spent.
Thanks again.
Mike
Sent from my iPhone
Lynne Biddle
11:50 01 Jan 24
A very informative and helpful DIY book. The free telephone call with Samantha was extremely helpful in what was at times a baffling experience. The frequent emails from Phil were all helpful too, so much so that I achieved Probate in 7 weeks. Thank you so much for your help, empathy and kindness at a difficult time. Lynne.
John Pannett
11:26 30 Nov 23
Having dealt with my mother in laws probate through a solicitor, at significant cost and of little benefit, I decided to obtain the probate pack from Berkeley Weston as I’m now dealing with my father in laws probate. The pack is clear and useful and the process is seemingly going through smoothly and much fateful. Thank you.
Paul Johnson
22:00 19 Nov 23
I am glad that I contacted this company. I can not fault the service provided, it being fantastic from the beginning to the end . Seeking probate is definitely something that a person seldom has to do during their lifetime and I was totally clueless. Berkeley Weston once approached helped alleviate my considerable stress with a guide making a complicated process more understandable and an approachable team who were always happy to answer my questions. On the rare occasions that they were unable to answer the phone immediately, on leaving my details they quickly called back. There were regular updates along the way by email, as well as a plethora of information that was very useful and not just concerning probate. I'd like to thank Phillip Western and his team. Your kindness will never be forgotten.
philip bray
11:01 23 Oct 23
The probate package that I received from Berkeley Weston Ltd, was great value, and extremely helpful. I must admit that it took a little bit of time to get into the package and understand it enough to fill out the necessary paperwork. But once I had got into it, and trawled through all the documents available to me on the CD supplied, it was relatively easy to follow step by step.. and as I had access to one of the Probate specialists at Berkeley Weston, any queries I had were only a phone call away from being answered.
Overall, a fantastic package, which is relatively easy to understand and follow, at an amazing price, saving thousands of pounds, over having to have lawyers filling out the paperwork for me.
Overall, a fantastic package, which is relatively easy to understand and follow, at an amazing price, saving thousands of pounds, over having to have lawyers filling out the paperwork for me.
Michael Surtees
09:20 18 Oct 23
I fully endorse Berkeley Weston's Probate pack that helped me out completing the Inheritance Tax forms at a difficult time. The pack gave me the confidence in completing the process and undoubtedly saved me a fortune in solicitor's fees.
Thank you Berkeley Weston, Michael Surtees
Thank you Berkeley Weston, Michael Surtees
Helen Devaney
09:59 08 Sep 23
I would recommend this service to anyone dealing with a bereavement .After the devastating process of closing banks ,building societies & online accounts to basically shut my beautiful sisters life down the thought of probate was overwhelming as well as expensive .After receiving all upto date statements I filled the forms in for this service & have posted off hopefully everything should be straight forward from here.
Great service friendly & knowledgeable staff .
Many Thanks😊 Helen
Great service friendly & knowledgeable staff .
Many Thanks😊 Helen
Sue Groombridge-Harvey
09:28 28 Aug 23
I bought the DIY Probate pack to help me gain Probate for my late husband's will. I found it easy to use following the step by step instructions and achieved my aim quite quickly. The cost was well worth it as I saved a great deal doing it myself.
Patrick Tierney
10:27 27 Jul 23
DIY probate pack helped understand the rules and regulations. I used it for letters of administration and was successful obtaining them myself.
My only critisism would be the number of emails received trying to persuade me to use a payed for service.
My only critisism would be the number of emails received trying to persuade me to use a payed for service.
Michael BELL
16:36 22 Jun 23
I very rarely post reviews but on this occasion I would like to 'sing the praises' of the probate pack supplied by Philip Weston. The pack supplied all the forms that were possibly needed and simple instructions on how to navigate the 'minefield' that is probate. The estate with which I dealt was relatively simple but there were still difficult 'hot spots'. I tried to get advice from HMRC who, on the x3 time of calling gave me x2 completely contradictory advice!! A quick call to Philip Weston's office sorted my problem in minutes. The staff were very helpful. An excellent pack and service and well worth the money.
Liz Eaton
14:49 12 Jun 23
I found the process very easy. Fortunately my mum did not own a property at the time of her death. At 93 years old she had a sound mind and was very cautious with her money. We are now waiting to hear from probate.
mark cator
18:10 08 Jun 23
After seeing DIY Probate pack online, I decided to buy, and followed the process listed and was able to sort out my Mum's estate relatively quickly. It saved me thousands in solicitor fees and was very easy to follow, with all relevant letters and forms included. Saved me from a lot of stress, as my Mum had not left a will, so to get details of what needed to be done was a lifesaver.
Would definitely recommend to get the pack.
Would definitely recommend to get the pack.
Graeme Ellis
14:26 19 May 23
Recently, I was faced with the dilemma of attempting to tackle the estate of a close relative. The prospect was daunting, but the only alternative seemed to be employing a solicitor at enormous expense. Then I happened upon an advertisement for Berkeley Weston's DIY Probate Pack. I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad I did. Phil Weston and his team have evidently gone to great lengths to produce a thorough guide for inexperienced people like me. The result is an inexpensive, easy to follow, step by step product which covers all aspects of the procedure. I have now been granted Probate at a fraction of the cost I had anticipated. I'm very grateful to Berkeley Weston, and would recommend the DIY Probate Pack to anyone in a similar situation.
Ian Thomas
17:15 30 Apr 23
I recently purchased the DIY Probate Pack from Phil Weston which was very well laid out and easy to understand. Knowing the estate was a little more complex and for peace of mind, I decided to use Phil’s services. I found Phil and his company to be very helpful, efficient and reliable. Any questions I had they were happy to help me with and were quick to respond. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again and have since recommended their services to others who have found themselves in a similar situation.
kayenbey
10:23 07 Mar 23
The probate guide has been an invaluable purchase. There is a lot to work through but the layout, the level of detail, and the support makes DIY probate possible. I cannot recommend it enough. A great purchase.
Denis Savage
11:26 10 Feb 23
Phil's info pack at £29 is an absolute bargain, Not only that but the additional information given by his staff during the course of my preparing the application for Grant Of Probate could not have been more helpful, the two together gave me the confidence to apply for Probate personally for my Uncles Estate and this was Granted within 12 weeks. Job done! I would absolutely recommend Phil's Firm to any potential DIY Executors without any doubt or hesitation. Phil and the members of his staff I spoke to were all knowledgeable, professional, personable. There is no better bargain than a cost of £29 to alleviate all the stress, anxiety, worry etc. of getting things right in a difficult and at times complicated area of law. Well done Berkeley Weston!
Lisa Canavan
10:22 01 Feb 23
Phil and his team have been invaluable in assisting me (a complete novice) in completing my mum's probate application. Valuable advice and help by email and phone. Although I did most of the groundwork the final application was completed by them. The confirmation of the grant of probate was received 7 weeks later! I would highly recommend Berkeley Weston Ltd.
alan wood
16:52 08 Dec 22
I bought the DIY Probate Pack from Phil Weston because my wife and I didn’t know exactly what was required to obtain probate when one of us died.
The pack is a very clear step-by-step guide as to what is required to obtain probate. The pack comes with a CD with ‘template letters’ that are necessary for dealing with banks, building societies etc.
I have nearly completed the work necessary so that when the inevitable happens, one of us will have a folder with all the relevant information required to obtain probate.
I would classify this package as ‘excellent’. Thank you, Phil.
The pack is a very clear step-by-step guide as to what is required to obtain probate. The pack comes with a CD with ‘template letters’ that are necessary for dealing with banks, building societies etc.
I have nearly completed the work necessary so that when the inevitable happens, one of us will have a folder with all the relevant information required to obtain probate.
I would classify this package as ‘excellent’. Thank you, Phil.
Graham Dalley
16:54 11 Nov 22
I used this product to deal with my late mother’s very modest estate. The process was relatively straightforward and did not take a great deal of time. I made a couple of phone calls during the process. The issues were dealt with most efficiently. I have no hesitation in recommending the product within the aforementioned parameter.
Barbara Brown
14:58 21 Oct 22
I used Berkeley Weston Ltd to help me with my application for probate following my dad's death. I found them extremely helpful and any queries or questions I had they were more than happy to help me with. They are very good value for money and saved me a fortune. Also, being nervous about making any mistakes they advised me and checked I'd got everything done properly. I would recommend this company in which is a very stressful and difficult time.
John Snowden
15:26 17 Oct 22
Some time ago my mother passed away, being in that pit at that time the last thing on my mind was the estate and dealing with the legal side. However using the pack supplied to me for Probate from the company done the following. It allowed me to focus on something else other than my grief, it allowed me to move forward. The flowchart and software was very comprehensive and after around 12 hours the documentation was complete and ready to send. The only complication I had was the court questioned why the Will had been re-stapled, they wanted a photo copy and to do that it had to be unstapled, that said the probate was back with me within the week. Thank you Berkeley Weston, a fantastic help in my time of need.
Denise Hill
16:26 07 Oct 22
Having approached so called probate solicitors online wanting to charge over £4k for an estate without any complications I thought £30 for the DIY pack was worth a try. Tbh looks daunting on first look but we opted for the Assisted service which was excellent. Phone line for any queries made any query easy to resolve.Give it
a go we have probate granted I just over 5 months much quicker than other routes.
a go we have probate granted I just over 5 months much quicker than other routes.
Elaine Pearson
11:25 14 Sep 22
Berkeley Weston was recommended to me by a fellow member of my gym, who had used his DIY pack successfully. My mum's estate was far from straightforward so I used his complete service and it was money very well spent. Phil's service was quick and accurate and saved me time, money and worry. I can't recommend him highly enough. With a simpler estate I'm sure his DIY pack would have guided me through the probate maze. Thank you, Phil.
Shelley Turbefield
12:24 28 Jul 22
I can’t praise them enough, so professional really helpful and so thorough. The process for probate was handled with such care and concern .Thank you so much. Every member of staff I have spoken to has been very very helpful. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone.
Ellie Lily
13:39 12 Jul 22
Purchased this at the beginning of March, collected all the relevant information that was set out applied for the probate on line by May and it came yesterday just over 7 weeks.
Downside is that the pack software and paperwork havent been updated with the new legislation that came in this year and there is a piece of paper added as an insert. Other than that it was helpful
Downside is that the pack software and paperwork havent been updated with the new legislation that came in this year and there is a piece of paper added as an insert. Other than that it was helpful
Helen Camplin
07:11 08 Jul 22
Many thanks, Phil Weston, for your help and guidance in assisting with the DIY Probate that helped us to work our way through the documentation with your help throughout. The DIY Probate Pack was extremely helpful and helped us to deal with the paperwork and soften the pain of the loss of a beloved family member. Thank you again for all your help. The step by step assistance thanks to your help has been a big relief. Many thanks again for all your help.
Jim Snowdon
11:56 07 Jun 22
I bought this pack to give to my eldest daughter for use when I die as she is my Executor so it has not yet been used. We have nevertheless read it through and were most impressed by the whole product. Even more satisfaction has been produced by the supplementary updates and clarifications received since and stored with the original papers. It is very good value for money and the options to have assistance or the whole job done for you are another clear benefit. I am not surprised it has sold so well. An excellent product always deserves high sales.
Helen Scott
13:53 01 Jun 22
I highly recommend Berkeley Weston for your probate application. Having lost both parents within 2 years and my Mum only in February I was full of grief. I initially was going to do probate myself but looking at all the tax forms I was so scared of making a mistake. I eventually went with the assisted probate and Sam prepared all the forms for me and sent them off. This took a massive weight off my shoulders. I’m now in receipt of my grant of probate. The whole process took only 8 weeks. Thankyou Sam for an excellent service very much appreciated
Neil Sorrill
10:12 17 May 22
Easy to follow, saved time AND MONEY, very effective product & service
I was able to purchase this for £29.99 and found the product and service EXCELLENT.
Very comprehensive, very thorough, great support from Phil throughout, useful email reminders of what to do and when.
From filing the application it took 10 weeks to get the Grant of Probate (although there was about a weeks delay because HMCTS made a mistake copying the will, took a couple of phone calls to get them to get on with it as it was their problem).
All went through without a hitch.
I cannot recommend this highly enough, you stay in control, don't have to work through a solicitor so you save time and money in the process.
I was able to purchase this for £29.99 and found the product and service EXCELLENT.
Very comprehensive, very thorough, great support from Phil throughout, useful email reminders of what to do and when.
From filing the application it took 10 weeks to get the Grant of Probate (although there was about a weeks delay because HMCTS made a mistake copying the will, took a couple of phone calls to get them to get on with it as it was their problem).
All went through without a hitch.
I cannot recommend this highly enough, you stay in control, don't have to work through a solicitor so you save time and money in the process.
Andrew Soane
14:07 02 May 22
If you're thinking about submitting the HMRC inheritance tax forms and applying for probate for yourself, do it! But do it with this guide. It's going to save you a fortune in legal fees, and give you the knowledge and information you need to confidently tackle what otherwise looks like an impossible task.
It's the easiest guide and breaks the whole process down into simple steps you can follow. Plus, you have the back up of Phil Weston and all of his expertise. (I emailed him twice with further questions as I was going through the process, and both times he came back with excellent advice and guidance - once calling me back within minutes of my email).
Thanks for all your help Phil, and a well written, easy-to-follow guide that made the whole process achievable.
It's the easiest guide and breaks the whole process down into simple steps you can follow. Plus, you have the back up of Phil Weston and all of his expertise. (I emailed him twice with further questions as I was going through the process, and both times he came back with excellent advice and guidance - once calling me back within minutes of my email).
Thanks for all your help Phil, and a well written, easy-to-follow guide that made the whole process achievable.
Fiona Austen
15:55 28 Apr 22
Having gathered together all of the information about my mum's estate I thought it would be easy to do the probate myself but i was so wrong. The hardest part was knowing what forms to complete and what to do next - Berkeley Weston and the team were brilliant - i got them to help with the last stage of the process and it was so easy.
Sam was very friendly and we had some quick communication back and forth but I soon felt the weight lifted off my shoulders and the information was submitted for Probate. A big thanks to the team, without whom i would not now be in possession of my Probate certificates and inheritance!
Sam was very friendly and we had some quick communication back and forth but I soon felt the weight lifted off my shoulders and the information was submitted for Probate. A big thanks to the team, without whom i would not now be in possession of my Probate certificates and inheritance!
Serena A
09:15 09 Apr 22
Thanks so much for all the useful information in the DIY Probate pack. It has made the process so much simpler. And I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my emails with specific questions that I had 😎
Jacqui Venvell
12:24 06 Apr 22
This is by far the best avenue if your probate needs are simple. This company is very professional, make every step so clear and straight forward from start to finish. All completed in ten weeks top service would highly recommend. Thank you Phil and Samantha for making a very stressful and emotional time as easy as possible for me and my family. Really appreciated
Céline La Frenière
14:19 01 Apr 22
The Berkely Weston DIY Probate pack has been extremely useful to me when my husband died recently. Over and above that, however, the personal touch provided by Mr. Weston, a qualified solicitor who specialises in Probate law, has been very reassuring.
The useful advice he emails his clients, including me, are extremely helpful. I marvel at his dedication and the way he goes above and beyond to help everyone even though his probate pack was moderately priced.
I would highly recommend anyone who is struggling with probate to buy Mr. Weston's self-probate pack as he won't let you down, which is something that is rare these days.
The useful advice he emails his clients, including me, are extremely helpful. I marvel at his dedication and the way he goes above and beyond to help everyone even though his probate pack was moderately priced.
I would highly recommend anyone who is struggling with probate to buy Mr. Weston's self-probate pack as he won't let you down, which is something that is rare these days.
Tim Clarke
17:25 14 Mar 22
Wonderful service. I have to admit that I doubted myself more than once, as mum's affairs were slightly complicated.
Sam on the support line was fabulous. Quick, helpful and very very supportive. We even exchanged messages on a Saturday.. I heard today that everything is going through. It's a great relief. Go for it everyone. You can do it. Thanks Sam, in my eyes you're a star !
Sam on the support line was fabulous. Quick, helpful and very very supportive. We even exchanged messages on a Saturday.. I heard today that everything is going through. It's a great relief. Go for it everyone. You can do it. Thanks Sam, in my eyes you're a star !
Richard Teare
19:59 30 Jan 22
I had purchased and carefully read Phil Weston's excellent DIY Probate Guide and had intended to process the probate paperwork myself. However, there is much to do (in a short space of time) after a bereavement and so I decided to use Phil's Assisted Probate service which was invaluable. Highly recommended! My thanks to Phil and his team.
Sue Salter
11:28 28 Jan 22
I decided against doing my own probate and was extremely pleased I choose Berkeley Weston.
The forms and information initially sent were easy to follow. Once I had completed and sent them off to Berkeley Weston Probate was granted in approximately 10 days I was amazed how quickly they obtained it.
Throughout the process emails are sent with very helpful tips including a different subject each time.
I have also had a follow up telephone conversation advising me how I should now deal with probate. the office is always on hand to help you with any questions you may have.
Thank you for all the help and assistance.
The forms and information initially sent were easy to follow. Once I had completed and sent them off to Berkeley Weston Probate was granted in approximately 10 days I was amazed how quickly they obtained it.
Throughout the process emails are sent with very helpful tips including a different subject each time.
I have also had a follow up telephone conversation advising me how I should now deal with probate. the office is always on hand to help you with any questions you may have.
Thank you for all the help and assistance.
Michael Crumpton
10:04 25 Jan 22
Dear Phil,
Just wanted to drop you a note of thank you for the helpful guidance
contained on your website.
My mother passed away in November and I looked online for advice
regarding the Probate application.
For the record, I had initially enquired with the Co-Operative
Probate services and they valued their Probate cost for my mother's
simple estate at a shocking £7500!
When I eventually discovered your website and your very positive and
honest attitude towards rip-off solicitor services I was intent on
applying myself. I applied in December 2021 and I have just received
The Grant of Probate, January 2022.
My cost was simply the application fee and postage.
With thanks and best wishes for your continuing success, keep up the
good work!
Just wanted to drop you a note of thank you for the helpful guidance
contained on your website.
My mother passed away in November and I looked online for advice
regarding the Probate application.
For the record, I had initially enquired with the Co-Operative
Probate services and they valued their Probate cost for my mother's
simple estate at a shocking £7500!
When I eventually discovered your website and your very positive and
honest attitude towards rip-off solicitor services I was intent on
applying myself. I applied in December 2021 and I have just received
The Grant of Probate, January 2022.
My cost was simply the application fee and postage.
With thanks and best wishes for your continuing success, keep up the
good work!
Charles Ancliffe
10:54 17 Jan 22
My mother sadly passed away at the end of august last year. Faced with the daunting task of being her executor my first thought was to employ the services of a solicitor to deal with her estate. On making enquiries I was offered a deal from a solicitor who said they charged 2% of the value of the estate plus then £250.00 per hour administrative costs. I estimated that it would cost me in excess of £8,000 . No small amount.
I ordered the Berkeley Weston Probate pack and never looked back. It truly helped immensely in understanding the Probate procedures in a clear and simple way which enabled me to obtain probate in under 4 months at a total cost of just under £500.00. What more can I say. If I can do it, so can you. Good luck!
I ordered the Berkeley Weston Probate pack and never looked back. It truly helped immensely in understanding the Probate procedures in a clear and simple way which enabled me to obtain probate in under 4 months at a total cost of just under £500.00. What more can I say. If I can do it, so can you. Good luck!
Neil Clayton
12:16 07 Jan 22
If you are thinking of doing probate yourself purchasing the DIY Probate Guide is an excellent first step. It is very clear and, to me as a non-lawyer, very thorough and helped me complete the probate process with confidence. I really loved the template letters!
Even if you eventually decide not to go the DIY route, the initial investment in the guide is well worth it as it makes it clear what is involved and when it is sensible to seek help. It really helped me with that decision and having decided to do it myself it gave me great confidence in knowing that I was doing the right thing at each stage of the process.
Even if you eventually decide not to go the DIY route, the initial investment in the guide is well worth it as it makes it clear what is involved and when it is sensible to seek help. It really helped me with that decision and having decided to do it myself it gave me great confidence in knowing that I was doing the right thing at each stage of the process.
David Grant
20:10 16 Dec 21
I as a little fearful of applying for Probate myself until my brother in law recommended Phil Weston to me. I contacted him by email and had a reply within minutes. The next day I received the information pack setting out in clear terms how to apply without engaging the services of a lawyer.
This included a guide as to the procedure and also a CD which contained all of the necessary forms for me to print off and complete.
Once started, I found the procedure relatively easy, the only holdup being the slow response of the banks and building society.
Always at the back of my mind was the reassurance that I could contact Phil's office with any questions.
In conclusion, I cant fault the service that I had from Phil and his company, I thank him for the help given and have no problem with recommending Berkeley Weston to anyone needing help with Probate. The information is correct, you do not need to employ a lawyer to apply for straight forward probate.
This included a guide as to the procedure and also a CD which contained all of the necessary forms for me to print off and complete.
Once started, I found the procedure relatively easy, the only holdup being the slow response of the banks and building society.
Always at the back of my mind was the reassurance that I could contact Phil's office with any questions.
In conclusion, I cant fault the service that I had from Phil and his company, I thank him for the help given and have no problem with recommending Berkeley Weston to anyone needing help with Probate. The information is correct, you do not need to employ a lawyer to apply for straight forward probate.
André Usborne
11:38 15 Nov 21
The process was explained in very clear step by step terms. The whole process was de-mystified and gave very good advice throughout. As a result I gained probate very much quicker than anticipated with no trouble at all.
I would recommend this service to anyone undergoing this process - which for most people is a first time.
I would recommend this service to anyone undergoing this process - which for most people is a first time.
Jake Moyle
11:42 27 Jul 21
My mum passed away in May and I initially bought the DIY Probate Pack from Berkeley and Weston. It contains a lot of useful information to get the job done.
This helped me to decide to opt for the assisted Probate option and I have been very impressed with the service I've had throughout. Telephone responses were very quick. Forms were posted or emailed to me according to my preference and I avoided a couple of mistakes I would have made on the Probate form if I hadn't had help.
Phil Weston, Samantha and Sarah are lovely people to deal with. They know the job inside out, explain things clearly and are very easy to talk to.
They post completed forms off really quickly.
The Probate Registry can take several weeks to process the forms but I had a great experience as mine were approved within a day or two of receipt.
I would definitely recommend Berkeley and Weston for the probate process. They have been excellent to deal with and removed all my concerns with this part of the process.
This helped me to decide to opt for the assisted Probate option and I have been very impressed with the service I've had throughout. Telephone responses were very quick. Forms were posted or emailed to me according to my preference and I avoided a couple of mistakes I would have made on the Probate form if I hadn't had help.
Phil Weston, Samantha and Sarah are lovely people to deal with. They know the job inside out, explain things clearly and are very easy to talk to.
They post completed forms off really quickly.
The Probate Registry can take several weeks to process the forms but I had a great experience as mine were approved within a day or two of receipt.
I would definitely recommend Berkeley and Weston for the probate process. They have been excellent to deal with and removed all my concerns with this part of the process.
Client Stories
Marie Martindale
Good news my probate application has been approved and l should receive the grant within ten days. On September 13th, the HMCTS informed me that they had received my documents and it could take eight weeks to process, but in fact, it only took six days!! I’m so pleased that you chose to specialise in
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Good news my probate application has been approved and l should receive the grant within ten days. On September 13th, the HMCTS informed me that they had received my documents and it could take eight weeks to process, but in fact, it only took six days!! I’m so pleased that you chose to specialise in Probate because your help has been invaluable making the whole process straight forward and stress free for me.
Many thanks, I am really grateful for all you have done on my behalf. Best wishes to you and your pleasant and helpful team.
Executor of her late husband’s estate. PW instructed 23rd August, probate granted within 4 weeks.
Chris England
On the death of my Father earlier this year I realised that the process of managing his estate would be fairly complex as the property has been set up in a trust by him and my late mother. This having resulted from my correspondence with a solicitor. I therefore sought to identify specialists in this
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On the death of my Father earlier this year I realised that the process of managing his estate would be fairly complex as the property has been set up in a trust by him and my late mother. This having resulted from my correspondence with a solicitor.
I therefore sought to identify specialists in this field who could offer assistance in the probate process and contacted Phil Weston of Berkeley Weston who responded in a very timely manner. Phil provided a very comprehensive information pack which outlined the step by step process to be undertaken.
I provided the details of the estate to Phil which enabled him to clarify which Tax forms needed to be completed and the reason why. He explained that the estate, with the property being in trust, meant that the estate would not pass 100% to my father and hence would be fairly complex. This would result in the completion of an IHT400 and associated documents instead of the usual IHT205. A far more involved and timely process.
It is fair to say that when you use a company for the first time, there is in your mind an element of risk associated with dealing with someone new and with this being a very dramatic time in my life, I just needed to know that I could entrust the services of a professional person/s. My faith in Berkeley Weston grew from strength to strength during the probate process and from the engagement of the service to the grant of probate, this was completed within 16 weeks from my initial enquiry to Phil.
This I feel was exceptional when the complexities of the IHT400 were taken into consideration. This service was also for a sum of money far less than that quoted by the solicitor whom I has initially approached. A saving of as much as 55%.
I would not hesitate to recommend Phil or his company to anyone seeking to complete probate in a timely and professional manner
Thank you Phil and the members of your team
Chris
July 2020. Executor of late father’s estate. IHT due/complex estate.
Gerard Murphy
Hi Phil. Good news. Today the Grant of Probate arrived with the five copies I ordered. I used your assisted DIY probate service because at the time I was not thinking clearly and was bereft. I am so pleased I saw your advert when I Googled Probate. Thank you for all the work you did
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Hi Phil. Good news. Today the Grant of Probate arrived with the five copies I ordered.
I used your assisted DIY probate service because at the time I was not thinking clearly and was bereft. I am so pleased I saw your advert when I Googled Probate.
Thank you for all the work you did on my behalf. Your service is first class and worth every penny. You saved me heartache, headache and worry.
I will willingly recommend you and your service to anyone who needs help in this matter.
Executor of late husband’s estate. PW instructed 11 February, probate granted 7th April
Ann Cordingley
Hi Phil just want to say a massive heart felt thank you our probate certificate came in just over a month money well spent one cheeky solicitor wanted £14000.00 even dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask thank you
Executor for late mother’s estate . PW instructed 16 Oct, probate granted 15 December at a cost of £700, saving family over £13,000 in solicitor fees
Alison Huckle
Thank you for dealing with my Father’s Probate and the transfer of his late wife’s nil rate inheritance tax so promptly. I can not fault the efficiency of your team in dealing with my questions and paperwork. I received a letter from you on 1st August, stating that you had submitted the application on that
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Thank you for dealing with my Father’s Probate and the transfer of his late wife’s nil rate inheritance tax so promptly. I can not fault the efficiency of your team in dealing with my questions and paperwork.
I received a letter from you on 1st August, stating that you had submitted the application on that date. I received the Grant of Representation in the post on 28th August.
The time and expense you saved me, compared to our local solicitor, cannot be emphasised enough. I have already recommended you to others.
Sincere thanks for your ‘hand holding’ with the assisted probate!
Executor of late father’s estate. PW instructed 11 July probate granted 28 August.
Zoe Saxon
I researched this company after being quoted 15,000 by a solicitor and cannot thank them enough. The service was efficient, kind and helpful nothing was to much trouble. They kept us informed every step of the process. I have also recommended them to a number of friends who also have had 5 star service from
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I researched this company after being quoted 15,000 by a solicitor and cannot thank them enough. The service was efficient, kind and helpful nothing was to much trouble. They kept us informed every step of the process. I have also recommended them to a number of friends who also have had 5 star service from them. Do not waste your money on a slicitor.
Zoe Saxon