Document Searches

Recent HMCTS data suggests that 3,174 Grant applications were stopped in just one year owing to missing documents. Whether it's a missing Decree Absolute to evidence a divorce, missing marriage or death certificates to confirm a Transferable Nil Rate Band, or just missing civil registration documents, we have you covered.

Civil Registration Documents

Birth, marriage and death certificates, as well as historic probate records, are often required in estate administration for a variety of reasons. These kinds of records can be integral in verifying familial relationships, identity verification, establishing entitlement, beneficiary tracing, or otherwise supporting applications to the Probate Registry. Whatever the requirement, we can help to ensure you're prepared. 

Decree Absolute Searches

Evidencing a divorce is one of the most common reasons solicitors contact us in the context of document retrieval. Where a Deceased individual had divorced, required details of that divorce are not always readily available when the Probate Registry queries the position.

Court processing times can vary, so instructing us early on in the process can help to minimise turnaround times. Decree Absolute search disbursements are charged per decade searched, so whatever information your clients or the family can provide can often go a long way.

Transferable Nil Rate Band (TNRB) Documents

When claiming the Transferable Nil Rate Band, it's necessary to evidence the circumstances of the predeceased spouse or partner. This routinely means showing copies of the marriage certificate and the death certificate for the predeceased spouse, as well as any probate records relating to the earlier estate. If anything is amiss, it can delay administration. In cases where there is any indication of a later marriage or a change in marital status that may affect entitlement to the transferable allowance, we can also conduct historic marriage searches when needed.

Overseas Records

Need a civil registration document or copies of a probate or succession overseas? We can help. We offer a speciality for overseas research and can assist in retrieving civil registration papers or probate filings from over 120 jurisdictions across the globe. We understand that varying systems of data privacy regulation and record-keeping are deployed in countries across the world, and can help you navigate these. 

In some circumstances, documents simply can not be obtained. For example, in instances where certain documents do not exist in an equivalent format, or has been historically lost or destroyed. We are always on hand when this occurs, and can often help you to decide what suitable alternative options are available and to help you in sourcing the same.

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