[ITSv40]

Sorry to hear about your mum. Whether expected or not these things are never easy to deal with.

When my mother-in-law died we dealt with probate ourselves and found the Probate Office extremely helpful and user friendly - that was in 2019 before covid! We had the house professionally valued and with the furniture and effects we photographed all the rooms and effects and then put a reasonable value on everything. We compiled an itemised list and sent that to probate and everything was accepted without question.

My wife - an only child - found that aspect a little daunting, but we just approached it in a practical manner and got on with it. A neighbour asked if the house would be for sale as her daughter was interested, so that went through without issue and the whole estate was done and dusted within three months.

Don't beat yourself up with the delay to the garage project as apart from the family issues it hasn't been reasonable weather for building works. It will all come good.