Testimonials & Client Stories

Below are examples of just some of the many testimonials we receive from customers who have used our services, whether that be our DIY Probate Pack, Probate and Inheritance Tax or making sure you are protected with a Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Google Reviews

Berkeley Weston Ltd DIY Probate

4.9

Based on 125 reviews

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.

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.MikeSent 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 ita 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

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 & serviceI 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.

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!

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.

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 !

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.

Michael Crumpton

10:04 25 Jan 22

Dear Phil,Just wanted to drop you a note of thank you for the helpful guidancecontained on your website.My mother passed away in November and I looked online for adviceregarding the Probate application.For the record, I had initially enquired with the Co-OperativeProbate services and they valued their Probate cost for my mother'ssimple estate at a shocking £7500!When I eventually discovered your website and your very positive andhonest attitude towards rip-off solicitor services I was intent onapplying myself. I applied in December 2021 and I have just receivedThe 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 thegood 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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Next Reviews

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… Read more “Marie Martindale”

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… Read more “Chris England”

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… Read more “Gerard Murphy”

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… Read more “Alison Huckle”

Executor of late father’s estate. PW instructed 11 July probate granted 28 August.