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Probate Bridging Lending Finance

Probate Bridging Lending Finance
Probate Bridging Lending Finance

Probate Bridging Lending Finance can be used when a will must be apportioned between various parties, it can occasionally throw up financial hurdles. Taking over the management of the deceased party’s affairs is not always straightforward, and it might be necessary to restructure their finances in order to streamline the probate resolution process. In these situations a form of fast, flexible finance is required, and bridging provides the perfect solution; by presenting a fully adaptable form of funding, bridging lenders can structure loans that meet their clients needs perfectly and resolve their probate issues.

Probate Bridging Lending Finance?

A probate bridging loan is a form of secured finance, which means that the loan value is guaranteed against the assets used as collateral. This therefore allows the lender to reclaim their initial loan through the sale of these assets if the borrower should fail to repay the loan in full, and an inappropriate bridging loan can do more harm than good. For this reason it’s imperative that anyone considering bridging loans as a form of probate finance consults their financial adviser before doing so in order to ensure it is the correct option for their situation.

When is a probate loan necessary?

Carrying out someone’s will is not always as straightforward as we might like. Although the ownership of their various assets might be easy enough to resolve, the average person will also develop a network of debts and credits which must also be resolved in their will, and the pressures that these exert on the estate’s executors can sometimes force compromises. An outstanding debt, for instance, might need paying imminently, which can force the sale of valuable assets at less than market value – not an ideal outcome for the will’s executors. As well as resolving outstanding debts, many estates will also be liable for inheritance tax in the UK, which necessitates liquidating many valuable assets quickly.

Because there are several different financial pressures which can come into play when resolving a deceased person’s will, it’s often necessary to take out a loan that covers shortfalls in payment. Bridging finance is ideal for this purpose, as it allows a person’s family a little bit of breathing space; they can use the loan to pay off debts instead of being forced to sell assets as quickly as possible. Bridging lenders are also highly flexible and very fast to put solutions in place; there’s no red tape, and it’s possible to create a loan structure that’s perfectly suited to individual circumstances.

How does probate funding work?

In many ways, probate bridging funding for probate finance is very similar to a standard bridging loan. The loan will generally be for a short fixed term, commonly less than 12 months (though longer terms are available), and can be of any value from tens of thousands to tens of millions of pounds. A bridging loan must be secured against an asset, and though property is the most common asset used as collateral it is not the only asset that can be used; specialist probate financiers accept everything from designer handbags and fine wines to classic cars as collateral.

We can examine a typical probate bridging loan scenario to demonstrate how bridging finance plays a vital role. Let’s say the estate consists of a fairly large home (without a mortgage) worth £600,000 on the market. Upon death, the deceased’s inheritors decide to put the property up for sale, but one of the inheritors is very keen to sell at any price; they want to accept an offer from a developer for substantially less than market value. If the house were to be put on the market it could sell for £600,000, but one of the inheritors will happily take the £400,000 that the developers are offering, as they need the money quickly.

A bridging loan is an excellent choice in this situation. Because the estate stands to lose a lot of value by selling quickly, the inheritors would do much better by waiting a few months. In order to resolve the short-term requirements of one of the inheritors, a bridging loan can be secured against the property to meet their ongoing needs. In this way a bridging loan satisfies all parties; those who are keen to sell can have their money quickly, and those who are content to wait are able to maximise the sale price of the property. Although it will usually cost several thousand pounds to take out a bridging loan for this amount, the inheritors stand to make £200,000 more from the sale of the property simply by waiting a few months to sell it.

Bridging finance is also very helpful for resolving the debts of an estate. If the deceased person should have outstanding financial issues that require resolution, a bridging loan can be used to quickly satisfy creditors. In these situations, the only other option would be to rapidly liquidate the estate in order to repay outstanding loans, which would result in a less than satisfactory sale price.

Inheritance Tax and Executor Loans

Many estates in the UK become liable for inheritance tax bridging loan, which must be paid within 6 months. This is often a large bill, as the Government requires a 40% share of the estate upon liquidation, and although it may be paid in installments this is commonly a difficult payment to make. Again, this financial pressure can be eased through the use of bridging finance and can be completed with the provision of an executor loan as it enables the will’s executors to restructure and refinance to meet the cost of inheritance tax.

Without bridging finance it would be very difficult to resolve the financial affairs that can be brought about in a deceased person’s will. The time pressures that quickly become apparent would require that many estates be quickly broken down and sold, rather than being realised at their full value. Bridging loans are therefore a helpful tool that enables individuals to pass on their wealth through generations, and allows inheritors to benefit more from their parent’s estates.

Frequently asked probate bridging loan questions?

What is a probate loan?

Probate loans allow you to borrow against items within a Will that you don’t yet have full legal access to. When you eventually receive your funds then you repay the bridging loan plus interest.

How long after probate can funds be distributed?

Typically, 3-6 months after probate is granted, funds are released and distributed. Although with more complex estates it can take longer.

How complicated are probate loans?

Probate loans are legally complex and essentially your solicitor and the lenders solicitor agree the process of how the money will be repaid.

How many probate bridging lenders are there in the UK?

Probate loans are considered as high risk due to their complex nature and therefore there are only a handful of lenders in the UK that will consider lending against probate.

How long do probate bridging loans take?

Despite being legally complex – loans can be completed within 1-2 weeks.

How much do probate loans cost?

Lenders can charge as much as 3% lenders arrangement fee (can be added to the loan) & 2% per month (can be added to the loan). You will also have to pay legal fees of approximately £1000 + VAT. Pricing can vary depending on if probate has been granted, how long the loan will take to be repaid and what it is being secured against.

What documentation do I need to apply for Probate Finance?

You will need a copy of the Will, an IHT400 from HMRC along with providing details of all executors and solicitors involved in the transaction

Do I need a solicitor to get a probate loan?

The simple answer is yes, all probate loans require you to have a solicitor to act on your behalf. They will negotiate with the lenders solicitor and will also be responsible for ensuring you understand the costs involved.

Do I need agreement from all executors?

All executors will need to agree to be able to take a probate loan as it is secured against the contents of the Will which will eventually be owned by the executors.

Are there any alternatives to probate loans?

If you have a good credit file or own a property yourself then you could look to raise monies via a mortgage or loan secured against your assets. This will be a lot cheaper but remember that probate can take quite a long time for funds to be released so it is worth getting independent financial advice and exploring all avenues.

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