Wills & Probate Solicitors

Wills

Making or updating a Will is straightforward with the right legal guidance. Our Wills and probate solicitors can help you quickly get a valid Will in place that properly reflects your wishes. We can also assist with tax planning to minimise the impact of Inheritance Tax.

Read more about how we can help with Wills.

Probate & estate administration

Administering an estate can be an intimidating task with lots of steps to get right.

Our team will be happy to support you at any stage of the process or take the whole estate administration off your hands.

Read more about how we can help with probate and estate administration.

Trusts

Trusts can be a very effective way of protecting key assets and/or providing security for your loved ones.

Our Wills and probate solicitors are experts in the use of many different types of trusts. We can help with setting up and managing trusts, as well as providing advice for trust beneficiaries.

Lasting Powers of Attorney

Losing the ability to manage your financial affairs or make decisions about your health is a scary prospect. Making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets you nominate a trusted person or person to help with these key matters if the need ever arises.

Our experts can help with creating LPAs and advising Attorneys acting under an LPA.

Read more about how we can help with Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Court of Protection Deputyship

If a loved one loses the ability to manage their personal affairs, it may be necessary for you to step in and help them. Applying to the Court of Protection to become a loved one’s Deputy means you can be empowered to make decisions about issues such as their home, finances, health and welfare.

Our team can assist with applications to the Court and advise on carrying out the duties of a Deputy.

Read more about how we can help with Court of Protection Deputyship.

Gifting property & Deed of Gift

Gifting property can be a great way to help a loved one as well as reduce your estate’s Inheritance Tax liability. However, it is essential to make the gift in the right way to avoid the risk of future challenges.

Our Wills and probate lawyers can help with gifting property, including the requirement to use a legal document known as a ‘Deed of Gift’.

Read more about how we can help with gifting property & Deed of Gift.

Wills & probate disputes

Inheritance disputes are, sadly, all too common. They can arise for various reasons, including because someone failed to leave a valid Will, their Will was ambiguous, or someone feels they have been treated unfairly. Unpicking these disputes can be challenging, so it is important to get expert legal advice at the earliest opportunity.

Our expert team can support you and give you the best chance of reaching an amicable agreement quickly, cost-effectively and with minimal conflict.

Is probate necessary if there is a Will?

Yes, having a Will in place does not affect the need for probate. The only time probate would not be required is if the entire estate is being left to a spouse or civil partner or if the value of the estate is very low.

How long does probate usually take?

There is no set time limit for probate. The whole process typically takes up to a year, but in complex cases, it can take longer.

Can I make a Will without a solicitor?

In theory, you can make a Will yourself without legal advice, but it is very risky to do so. Making a DIY Will, even with a template, can lead to a whole range of problems. Every person’s estate and every situation is different – using a generic template for a Will could mean key issues are overlooked.

Failing to fully account for your assets or potential problems can mean your estate does not go to the people you would have intended or result in unnecessary conflict between your loved ones. It is also easy to miss some of the requirements for a legally valid Will, meaning your homemade Will could be disregarded entirely.

Solicitors that deal with Wills can ensure all of your assets and any particular areas of risk or uncertainty are accounted for. They can make sure your Will is legally valid and advise on making your estate tax efficient so your loved ones receive the maximum benefit.

When are Wills read after death?

The Executor or Executors of a Will should notify any beneficiaries of the Wills’ contents. This might be done by gathering the beneficiaries to read the Will, but this is not a requirement.

Once probate has been granted, the Will becomes a public document held by the Probate Registry, and anyone can apply for a copy.

What is a mirror Will?

Mirror Wills are generally used for couples who wish to leave their estates to each other. Essentially, the Wills are the same, except that the testator (the one leaving the Will) and beneficiary (the person who would benefit from the Will) are reversed. Provision can also be made for what happens once the last surviving partner passes away, e.g. that any assets should then go to the couple’s children.

Mirrors Wills are generally less costly than two separate Wills, so they can be a good option for couples who plan to leave their assets to each other.

How do Wills work for married couples?

Married couples need to give special consideration to the issue of inheritance. If a married person does not have a Will, their estate will generally pass to their spouse on death. However, depending on the value of the estate, some of their assets may also pass to any children or other direct descendants they have.

Getting married will invalidate any pre-existing Will, so it is important to make a new Will when you marry. Getting divorced does not invalidate your Will, but it does mean that your ex-spouse Will be treated as if they had died when your marriage ended. If your Will does not make provision for this, then your estate could potentially be dealt with under the rules of intestacy.

It is, therefore, essential to update your Will when getting married or divorced.