Confirmation

Confirmation is a legal document provided by a court which gives the executor authority to uplift money or property belonging to the deceased from the holder, such as a bank, and distribute it according to law. An application to obtain confirmation is lodged with the sheriff court. The application for confirmation must include an inventory of the deceased’s property at the time of death. Confirmation is only possible if the inventory includes at least one item of money or property in Scotland.

There are two types of confirmation:

•small estates – where the total value of the estate is less than £36,000;
•large estates – where the total value of the estate is over £36,000.

The forms used and fees to be paid are different depending on the type of estate. If the estate is small, the sheriff clerk can help prepare the inventory. For a large estate, legal advice is recommended.