Services
Our Services
I have spent my entire working life in the field of art and antiques. With over thirty-five years of experience in leading auction houses, conducting valuations, and assessing items for sale, I have developed a wealth of time-served expertise, enabling me to deliver practical and accurate valuations.
I work closely with solicitors, executors, trustees and private individuals to provide written valuations for either probate or possible sale at auction.
If a deceased's estate is approaching or exceeds the financial threshold for inheritance tax, it is essential to obtain a professional valuation of the general contents of the deceased's property and their belongings, commonly referred to as "chattels". It would be easy to assume there is nothing of value. However, to avoid a potential investigation by Inland Revenue, who might ask how an executor has arrived at the figures submitted, it is advisable to safeguard your application by seeking professional help to avoid delays or penalties due to inaccurate information in your submission.
At a difficult time when emotions are high, it is better to avoid the further drama and complications an investigation would cause.
Valuations are based on ‘open market values’ in accordance with Section 160 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (IHT)
Valuations for sale are based on current market trends at auction.
Probate Valuations are fully HMRC compliant.
Probate Specialists
What Is Probate?
Probate definition: In England and Wales, probate is the word normally used to describe the legal right to deal with someone’s assets, belongings and property in the event of their death.
Probate is the process of proving that a will is valid (if there is one) and confirming who has authority to administer the estate of the person who has died. Statistically, in England and Wales, one in two estates requires a formal probate valuation.
Drawing on many years of experience conducting probate valuations and dealing with estates from the smallest properties to large country houses, and liaising with solicitors and paralegal professionals, I can produce a detailed valuation that is fully compliant with HMRC requirements, either bound or in digital form, to enable you to apply for the grant of probate. The grant is the authorisation to administer the deceased’s assets or belongings and is required to disperse or dispose of the items within the estate of the deceased if probate is applicable.
If required I am able to supply a quote for a full house clearance and then once prohbate is obtained the property can be cleared by our tried and trusted team of clearers that ensure a minimum of the items are sent to landfill and the process is respectfully and discreetly carried out; enabling the property to be marketed for sale or simply re-occupied.
Advice & Guidance
I am happy to offer advice to those downsizing, clearing a whole property or valuing an entire collection or even a single item
I aim to simplify the process and offer guidance in what can be a distressing or confusing situation. I can offer solutions based on many years of helping clients identify their items of value that may have been simply overlooked and consigned to a charity shop or discarded. I work closely with several major auction houses and reputable couriers and can advise on the most cost-effective method of sale or disposal.
Fees
I charge £200 per hour or £500 per day. A standard two or three-bedroom house usually takes around two hours to conduct a probate valuation
Travel is included in my hourly and daily rate.
For a typed report on a single item, I charge £50 + travel costs if applicable.
About
About James
I am based in Oxfordshire and for the last three decades have been working in and around many parts of Britain. This has given me a wide and varied breadth of experience as a senior valuer in busy auction houses. liasing with clients from all walks of life and in many different circumstances.
I have been supplying professional services to the art and antiques industries and private individuals for over thirty-five years.
