Navigating Estate and Probate Affairs

Gentle, trusted guidance to help your family manage probate, wills and legal matters smoothly when you need it most.

Dealing with an estate after a loss requires clarity, patience and support, all of which we can provide.

At J Perrigoe & Son and A.W Court, we have supported families for generations. We know these communities well and we understand that when a bereavement occurs, the practical obligations that follow can feel overwhelming alongside the weight of grief.

Our care for your family extends far beyond the day of the funeral. We remain by your side to help you navigate the legal steps and administrative tasks required to settle your loved one’s estate and look after their final affairs.

Probate Support for our Families

When someone dies, the estate cannot usually be administered until a Grant of Probate or, where no Will exists, Letters of Administration have been obtained from HM Courts & Tribunals Service. This legal process requires the collection and submission of detailed documentation, and it is one that many executors and family members find unexpectedly complex.

We have partnered with Laurelo, a specialist probate service, to provide families with access to expert support. Laurelo offer a free initial consultation with no obligation to proceed, and a clear, transparent fixed-fee service for those who do. They are experienced in dealing with estates of all sizes and complexities including those involving rural property, agricultural assets and complex family arrangements.

The Value of a Will

A Will is a legally binding document that outlines exactly how you want your assets, property, and possessions distributed after your death, as well as who should look after your dependents. Without this vital document, the law decides who inherits your estate under the strict rules of intestacy, which may not align with personal wishes and can cause delays and distress for grieving families.

Through our professional partners, we can connect you with an experienced will writer who will take the time to understand your circumstances and guide you through creating a Will that truly reflects your wishes. The cost is very reasonable, and the process far simpler than most people anticipate.

Once a Will is in place, we recommend registering it with the National Will Register — a national database that ensures the Will can always be found, wherever it is stored, when the time comes.

Cutting Through the Administrative Work

One of the most time-consuming tasks after a bereavement is notifying everyone. Life Ledger is a free service that enables families to inform over 1,000 UK companies from one secure platform, including banks, insurers, utility providers, and pension companies. Used alongside the government’s Tell Us Once service (which handles departments like the DVLA and HMRC), it saves hours of phone calls and letters, ensuring nothing important is missed.

Rooted in the Communities We Serve

Our teams at J Perigoe & Son and AW Court are here to help you navigate, at your own pace. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

Words from the
Families We’ve Helped

I just wanted to say a big thankyou to Mark and his team for his professional and sympathetic attitude
to dealing with my mums funeral . He was kind and caring and nothing was too much trouble , by the end of the day he felt like one of the family. That said , the funeral was beautiful, we were fortunate enough to have a horse and carriage and everything was on time and went like clockwork. He made us feel like we had all the time in the world to say our goodbyes to my beautiful mum. Even after the funeral he checked on all the family to make sure we were all okay. I can’t recommend them enough . Thankyou once again.
Highly recommend. Mark and all the staff at Perigoes Northiam
have been fantastic for the funeral of my son. Very professional, honest and caring. I am so glad that we chose them.
I couldn’t recommend J Perigoe & Son enough.
From start to finish, they made the whole experience as easy as it could be. They were so helpful and supportive, going above and beyond to ensure everything went ahead as planned. They were always checking in and making sure things went as smoothly as possible, which really helped our family through a very difficult time. Mark was amazing — he’s incredibly good at his job, very polite, and just an overall wonderful person. We’re so grateful for everything he and the team did for us.
A.W. Court were excellent in their help, kindness & professional way
they gave this for our family funeral. Nothing was too much trouble, they made a difficult day much easier.
We can't thank the team at J Perigoe and son enough for their care over mum's funeral,
particularly Mark who arranged everything as she wanted. Mark was very supportive to me throughout the whole process, his kindness, professionalism and caring nature (along with his own touch of humour) made a very difficult time for me a little easier to cope with. Thank you so much for all you did for me and my family, it was much appreciated.
Mark and his team, including the celebrant and florist, truly listened to everything we wanted for our Dad.
They took our wishes and turned each one into a perfect idea which honoured our Dad better than we could have imagined. The extras we hadn’t even thought about turned the toughest day of our lives into one we knew Dad would have been so proud of. Thank you so very much, Mark. You are a true asset to J Perigoe & Son.
Mark and his staff were truly outstanding when my Nan passed away.
From the very beginning, they showed such compassion, professionalism, and genuine care for our family. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and they made a very difficult time feel that little bit easier. Given some unexpected family matters that arose around the time of Nan’s passing, Mark handled last-minute alterations flawlessly and with complete understanding. His calm approach and attention to detail ensured everything went smoothly and exactly as we wished. Every part of the service was handled with dignity and respect, and it was clear that Mark and his team genuinely care about the families they support. We’re so grateful for their kindness and for helping us give Nan such a beautiful and meaningful service.
Mark and his team are a true credit to the company.
I can’t thank them enough for their professionalism, knowledge and empathy during the hardest time of my life. With funerals you don’t get a second chance to make it right, and these funeral directors don’t need to, they got it right first time! They got it just perfect - thank you. You really are in safe hands when you are being looked after by them.
Mark and his team were truly outstanding organising our Dads funeral in December.
Every part of the service was handled with dignity, respect and professionalism. You can clearly see how much care and thought go Into supporting families and loved ones. Nothing was too much trouble and Mark was there for us every step of the way. We took his advice on almost everything and the funeral was absolutely perfect from beginning to end with so many personal touches. Thank you all for making our Dads send off the best it could’ve possibly been. It’s something we will remember always. Our friends and family have all mentioned how lovely Mark was and also how beautiful the service was. We wouldn’t hesitate on recommending Mark and his team to anybody in the future.

Community Voice

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Dr Bill will share three practical strategies to help you navigate grief and find healing and hope - in a warm, supportive space with no charge to attend.
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West & Coe's Education Day January 2026
We were delighted to host another successful Education Day, welcoming partners from the Barking & Dagenham Register Office and Saint Francis Hospice.
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A Tribute to a Dagenham Legend:
West & Coe Honours Steve Thompson 
At West & Coe Funeral Directors, we would like to take a moment to honour a true Dagenham legend. Following the news that Steve Thompson will be stepping down as Managing Director of Dagenham & Redbridge FC, we want to share our immense gratitude for his decades of service.
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How West & Coe continues to support local families in the communities of Tendring 
In an ever-changing world, there is a profound comfort in the things that remain constant. For West & Coe, that consistency is measured in the generations of families they have supported and cared for since 1903.
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