Frequently asked questions
Practical questions about using Settling, answered plainly and gently.
Does it cost anything?
No. Settling is free to use and does not ask for card details at any point. It stays free for as long as you need it, because probate can take months and you should not meet an upgrade prompt halfway through it.
Is this legal advice?
No. Settling is not a law firm, and using it doesn't create a solicitor-client relationship. It organises publicly available guidance from GOV.UK, HMRC and The Gazette into a checklist for your situation, and links you to the official source at every step. It can't assess your specific legal position, weigh up disputes, or tell you what a court would decide. For anything like that, take advice from a solicitor.
What about complex, contested or high-value estates?
Settling's checklist covers the general probate process and adjusts for the basics — whether there is a will, multiple executors, or a business in the estate. It is not built to handle disputes between beneficiaries, trusts, cross-border assets, or estates likely to trigger detailed Inheritance Tax planning. If any of that applies, a solicitor is worth involving early. You can still use Settling alongside them to keep track of what has been done, so the practical side feels less scattered.
What happens to my data?
Your account details and the answers you give are stored securely and used only to run your checklist. Settling doesn't sell your data or use it for advertising. Full detail on what's collected, why, and how to have it deleted is in the privacy policy.
What if there's no will?
Settling still works — one of the first four questions asks whether there is a will. If there is not, the checklist switches to the intestacy process: someone applies to be administrator rather than executor, and the estate is distributed according to the intestacy rules rather than the will's instructions. The relevant GOV.UK guidance is linked at each of those steps.
Can I stop and come back later?
Yes. Everything you have ticked off, along with dates and any figures you have entered, is saved to your account. Probate often stretches over months while you wait on valuations, HMRC or the Probate Registry. Close the tab whenever you need to; your checklist will be there when you return.
Do I need a solicitor?
Not necessarily. Many estates — a will, one or two executors, no disputes, a modest estate below the Inheritance Tax threshold — can be handled by an executor alone, and that is who Settling is built for. If the estate is large, contested, involves a business or trust, or you simply do not feel able to take it on, a solicitor can act for you instead of, or alongside, using Settling.