How UHY Hacker Young Uses Estatesearch and Exizent to Provide Better Estate Administration and Probate Services for Clients
The UHY Hacker Young Group is one of the leading UK networks of chartered accountants with 20 offices spanning England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. UHY teams are all driven to help clients prosper, and this applies across everything they do for their clients, their people, and wider communities.
UHY Hacker Young: Supporting Families Through Probate Services
Peter Tuffin, Accountant and Partner at UHY Hacker Young Group, is based in the firm’s Brighton office. He specialises in Will writing, estate planning, and estate and trust administration. He is a fellow of the Institute of Professional Willwriters and is a Probate Practitioner, legally authorised to apply for Probate. He says, “Probate can be complex. Most clients we work with would not be confident in navigating the necessary processes, and we are here to help.
The Challenge of Asset Identification
“One of the main challenges is the identification of all the assets within the estate. It is daunting for many clients to try to wrap up the financial affairs of a deceased family member, where they may not have all of the details. We use Estatesearch for share valuations and sales, and for the placement of statutory notices. We also use Estatesearch’s Financial Profile Search to contact financial institutions to confirm if the deceased held an account, which then enables us to make further enquiries about the nature of the assets.
The Role of Estatesearch in Asset Discovery
“While no solution is fool-proof, Estatesearch helps us demonstrate our due diligence in asset identification. For example, there was one case where Estatesearch had reported a positive match for unknown accounts and we made further enquiries. The financial institution confirmed details of the assets held, however, another account with the same bank came to light after the estate had been distributed. We were able to show the client that we had completed all the necessary checks and Estatsearch’s report was correct.
“Although the fault lay with the financial institution and we had completed our due diligence, we worked to rectify the situation at no cost to our client. This case proves how difficult asset identification can be. Fortunately, the additional account only contained a few hundred pounds, but if the sum had been substantial, this may have led to all sorts of issues, including additional inheritance tax, for example.
How Exizent Simplifies IHT 400 Form Completion
“Another aspect of Probate which can be overwhelming and even frightening for people is the IHT 400 form, which is detailed and lengthy, and requires complete accuracy for submission to HMRC. Substantial penalties can be imposed if the form is not filled in correctly.
“Previously, we completed IHT 400 forms manually. Now, we use the Exizent system, which enables us to complete IHT 400 forms on behalf of our clients. The system ensures that any amendments are reflected across the whole form, which saves time re-keying of information, but most importantly, ensures accuracy if amendments need to be made.
Navigating Other Probate Challenges
“I’ve touched on a few of the challenges bereaved people could face with Probate but there are others. Beneficiaries may need planning advice or they may need a Deed of Variation. Most lay executors would be unaware of the need for bankruptcy checks for beneficiaries and the relevant indemnities required. Overseas assets can also present challenges due to the need to deal with foreign legal jurisdictions. Whatever the issue, we know how to deal with it and we support 20-30 families each year when they need expert advice.
“When my own father passed away, I actually instructed another firm to manage the estate administration and Probate. Drawing from my own personal experience, I can explain to clients that this distance can often be helpful during a difficult time.
“From a practical perspective, instructing an expert firm to deal with the matter can provide a cushion between executors and beneficiaries which can also be helpful. For example, if there are disputes, there is less room for argument if beneficiaries are given a set of professionally produced accounts and this often means the whole process is much less stressful for everyone involved.
Why UHY Hacker Young Chooses Estatesearch and Exizent
“As a partner of UHY Hacker Young, I have been pleased with both Estatesearch and Exizent’s services. I know the Estatesearch team as they are based close to me, and we have enjoyed the occasional lunch together. I think the real question is, are we planning to change providers? The answer is no; we are certainly not looking to change. Both Estatesearch and Exizent make our lives easier and mean we can offer better services to our clients while also helping to protect our firm.”
For further information about UHY Hacker Young, please see: www.uhy-uk.com/ or to contact Peter Tuffin email: [email protected]
UHY Hacker Young’s partnership with Estatesearch and Exizent demonstrates how expert knowledge combined with smart technology can simplify estate administration and provide families with peace of mind. By delivering professional and reliable probate services, the firm helps clients navigate asset discovery, inheritance tax, and complex family situations with clarity and confidence.
Originally published on Today’s Wills and Probate | 27th October 2025