This communication is intended for professional introducers only and is not for distribution to retail customers. Any lending is subject to underwriting, eligibility checks and suitability requirements. Terms, interest and fees apply. Borrowing costs may be higher than expected and may reduce any settlement or inheritance received.

Making a referral in probate or family law is not routine for most people. Your clients are often at their most stretched and any lender you point them towards carries your professional reputation, so choosing the right partner is critical.

Untangled was built for exactly these moments. We fund life’s most pressured situations without unnecessary friction. For solicitors and brokers working across estate administration and family law, that means a specialist partner you can refer with confidence And one you can trust to have carefully managed processes.

This guide covers our product range across probate and family law, how suitability drives every decision we make, and what it means for the solicitor–lender relationship. If you’re building or reviewing your approach to estate loan solicitor referral or probate finance solicitor partnerships, this is a useful starting point.

Understanding Untangled’s suitability model

Untangled’s approach starts with the client. Before any loan is discussed, our team works with you to assess the full picture, including the legal context, client circumstances, timing pressures, and how and when repayment can realistically be made. Product selection is determined after that assessment.

This matters especially in probate and family law, where clients may be grieving, in dispute, or dealing with financial situations they’ve never navigated before. UK Finance’s Estate Administration Banking Protocol recognises this directly, describing the practitioner–lender relationship in bereavement cases as a delicate one. Lenders must make reasonable adjustments for customers’ circumstances whilst maintaining robust oversight to ensure good outcomes.

That’s the standard we hold ourselves to. For referring professionals, it means that when you introduce a case to Untangled, we take on the responsibility of figuring out what’s appropriate. You don’t need to pre-qualify every client. You need confidence that whoever you refer will be treated with the care and rigour the situation demands.

When reviewing a complex case, I take the time to understand the full story, not just the information in front of me. I ask the right questions, balance the risks and opportunities, and use my judgement to reach a fair and responsible decision.

Grace Fuller, Underwriter

This suitability-first approach also reduces risk for the referrer. When a client’s situation is assessed holistically, the outcomes are better for everyone.

Probate lending: solutions during estate administration

Probate can be complex and take months to resolve. Throughout that period, beneficiaries and executors are often sitting on obligations they cannot yet meet and assets they cannot access.

Untangled’s probate lending products exist to bridge that gap. They are not designed as a single solution applied to every case, each loan is structured around the estate, the individual’s position within it, and the stage of administration. There are two core products:

 Inheritance Advance: loans guaranteed against a known entitlement

An Inheritance Advance is designed for beneficiaries who have a clear entitlement from an estate but need access to funds before distribution takes place.

Here is how it works. Untangled advances a portion of the expected inheritance, with no requirement for the client to make repayments during the loan term. The loan is repaid directly from the estate once probate completes and assets are released. For the beneficiary, that removes the financial pressure of servicing a financial obligation during what is already a difficult period.

This product is most appropriate where the inheritance entitlement is clearly defined, the estate is progressing through probate, and the client has a demonstrable need for liquidity in the interim. That might be to cover living costs, legal fees, things they want to use the money for personally, or other pressing obligations.

One client came to Untangled with the goal of a long-planned, once-in-a-lifetime trip abroad.

Referred by a trusted introducer, we assessed the case and provided funds of up to 70% of the anticipated inheritance value. Probate was granted, the bookings were secured, and the client got the momentum they needed without waiting on the legal process to catch up with their life.

For solicitors managing estates, the Inheritance Advance is a contained, transparent solution. It aligns with the probate process rather than complicating it. Additionally, it keeps beneficiaries financially stable while administration continues.

Find out more about the Inheritance Advance product.

Estate Advance loans: supporting the administration of the estate itself

Where an Inheritance Advance focuses on the beneficiary, an Estate Advance Loan focuses on the estate. This distinction matters.

Executors often face significant upfront costs before any assets can be distributed or, in some cases, before probate can even be granted. Inheritance Tax is the most common example, as HMRC requires payment before a grant of probate is issued, yet estate assets are typically frozen until probate is obtained. That is a genuine catch-22. Other costs including legal fees, property maintenance, and repair or refurbishment ahead of a sale create similar pressure.

Estate Advance Loans provide lending at the estate level to cover these obligations. This enables smoother administration, reduces the risk of forced asset sales, and prevents delays that affect everyone involved: executors, beneficiaries, and the professionals managing the process.

Untangled’s underwriting team takes a considered approach to estate valuation. We apply conservative adjustments to establish a minimum realistic estate value, which protects both the borrower and the lender throughout the process. For referring professionals, this level of diligence is part of what makes an estate loan solicitor referral to Untangled a dependable one.

When a London broker referred a client facing a £140,000 inheritance tax bill on a £4.5m estate, the complexity was significant. There was no will, and assets were split between the UK and Ireland. Most lenders stepped away. Untangled identified a clear path forward, using a verified will search and UK-based assets to structure an Estate Advance Loan and reach approval in just over two weeks. HMRC was paid on time, the estate administration could continue, and a case that looked unworkable was resolved without the executor carrying the burden personally.

Find out more about the Estate Advance Loan product.

Family law lending: financial stability during legal proceedings

Divorce and separation can create financial imbalance quickly. One party may retain control of joint assets. The other may have limited income, restricted access to savings, and mounting legal costs, all while proceedings are ongoing.

Untangled’s Family Law Loan exists to lend support at a difficult period. It gives clients access to funding that supports their ability to secure proper legal representation and maintain stability during proceedings, without placing unsustainable pressure on them in the process.

As with probate, sensitivity is our priority here. Lending decisions must account for the legal process, the client’s overall financial position, expected settlement outcomes, and wellbeing..

Solicitors referring family law cases play an active part in the assessment. We ask for a professional view on the likelihood of reconciliation and an indication of likely and worst-case scenario settlement outcomes. Untangled will only approve applications where there is no known risk of reconciliation. This keeps the product targeted, responsible, and appropriate.

A client of a leading London law firm needed funding for legal fees within days, not weeks. From the first enquiry, Untangled confirmed next steps within the hour, and secured timescales by the following morning. The application was submitted and an offer made that same day. Three days later, approved funding and signed documents were in hand, allowing both the client and their solicitor to move forward without disruption to the proceedings.

Find out more about the Family Law Loan product.

Working with solicitors: you signpost and we assess suitability

Solicitors and referrers have an inclination when a client might benefit from financial support and when it is appropriate to present them with the option of using a lender they can trust. When you refer a case to Untangled, whether it is an estate loan solicitor referral, a probate finance solicitor introduction, or a family law enquiry, we take on full responsibility for suitability assessment. We handle the evaluation, the structuring, and the ongoing case management. You stay informed throughout, without being burdened by the process.

What that looks like in practice:

• Clear guidance on product suitability from the first conversation

• Transparent communication at each stage of the case

• A named team you can reach directly, not a call centre

That last point matters. In an industry where referrers are often left managing client expectations through opaque processes and late changes, Untangled’s commitment to consistency is a genuine differentiator. When we issue terms, we stand by them.

A specialist approach for a valued relationship

Probate and family law lending are not standard financial services. The clients are more vulnerable, the timelines are less predictable, and the stakes are higher than in most lending contexts.

That demands more than a flexible rate sheet. It demands a lender who understands the legal process, applies genuine care to every case, and builds relationships with referrers based on consistency and expertise rather than volume.

The Untangled team is accessible, accountable, and built for exactly the kind of cases you are dealing with.

If you are a solicitor or broker looking to build a referral relationship with a lender who takes probate and family law finance as seriously as you do, we would like to hear from you.

Get in touch with the Untangled team today to discuss how we can support your clients and your practice.