Helping ordinary families obtain probate without spending thousands on solicitors’ fees
Since 2004, Phil Weston and the Berkeley Weston team have helped people take control of probate, avoid unnecessary legal costs and get the right support during an already stressful time.
Over the last two decades, Phil has helped more than 36,000 people obtain probate without using a solicitor.
Not sure what kind of probate help you need?
You do not have to work that out alone. Call us on 0116 467 0060 and we will be happy to answer your questions. There is no obligation to buy anything.
It began with hundreds of calls from people who knew there had to be a better way
People wanted to keep control
Phil and his colleagues were taking hundreds of calls each month from consumers who wanted to deal with straightforward probate matters themselves, without automatically handing everything to a solicitor.
But they were understandably worried
They wanted to know what was involved, which steps to follow and how to avoid mistakes that could leave them out of pocket or delay the estate.
So Phil built the help they were asking for
After years in the legal world, Phil used his experience to create a clear, step-by-step probate resource. The aim was simple: give normal people the tools and support to obtain probate quickly and easily, without spending a fortune on solicitors’ fees.
That mission continues today
The Probate Guide is now available free of charge. Most people can use it to move forward themselves. For the smaller number who want extra help, the Berkeley Weston team provides an assisted probate service that remains focused on control, clarity and cost-effectiveness.
Probate knowledge built through more than two decades of helping real families
Phil is a former legal adviser and probate practitioner. He founded Berkeley Weston Ltd in 2004 to help consumers overcome tricky legal problems without spending a fortune on solicitors’ fees.
Specialist knowledge
Phil has worked with probate since 2004 and knows the process, the paperwork and the problems that can cause unnecessary cost or delay.
Clear explanations
The free Probate Guide breaks the journey down step by step, including the forms, inheritance tax requirements and practical work involved before and after the grant.
A real team
Berkeley Weston is a genuine bricks-and-mortar business with its headquarters in Leicester. Private clients can visit the office by appointment.
Stop families paying for probate services they do not need
At a time of bereavement, people should not feel pushed into spending thousands of pounds simply because probate looks unfamiliar. Phil’s mission is to give you clear information first, so you can understand the process, keep control and decide whether you genuinely need extra help.
The starting point is always the same: useful guidance, freely available, with no obligation to purchase anything else.
You may be able to do it yourself. If you need support, we are here.
Start with the free Probate Guide
Every year, around 3,000–4,000 people use Phil’s resource to obtain probate without talking to a solicitor.
It gives you an at-a-glance checklist and explains the journey from the first steps and valuing the estate through to the application, estate accounts and distribution.
Free to download. No obligation to purchase anything else.
Ask about assisted probate
If the process feels overwhelming, or you simply want an expert’s eyes on the application, Phil and the team can help you obtain probate for a fraction of the cost typically charged by solicitors.
You keep visibility and control while receiving practical help and support throughout the agreed probate process.
Would it help to talk your situation through first?
Please call us on 0116 467 0060. We will listen, answer your questions and help you understand the sensible next step. If you would rather not call, send a free enquiry and the team will come back to you.
A clearer route through the entire probate journey
- The critical first steps
- Who to notify after the death
- How to value the estate
- Checking whether IHT400 is required
- The inheritance tax requirements
- Completing the probate application
- Vital checks on the grant
- Placing legal notices
- Registering the grant
- Settling debts and expenses
- Preparing estate accounts
- Distributing the residuary estate
Helpful, human support when probate feels overwhelming
“I can’t thank Phil Weston enough for the help and support he and his staff gave me with getting my husband’s Probate Granted. Their assistance with the DIY process was outstanding. I was saved several thousand pounds and I’m immensely grateful to them.”
Jeannie Mee
“I researched this company after being quoted £15,000 by a solicitor and cannot thank them enough. The service was efficient, kind and helpful. They kept us informed every step of the process.”
Zoe Saxon
“After my Mum’s death it was full on, arranging the funeral, sale of her flat and Probate. Getting help from Berkeley Weston saved the day and made the Probate process less demanding.”
David Fussell
You do not need to decide everything today
If you have questions about probate or inheritance tax, call us and talk them through. There is no obligation. You can also send a free enquiry or begin with Phil’s free Probate Guide in your own time.