Wills, Probate and Estate Planning

Two out of three people in the UK haven’t made a will. If you are one of them, you are not alone. Even if you have made a will, is it up to date?

If you have not made a will, you are relying on intestacy rules that date back to 1925 to determine how your assets are divided when you die. Society has changed quite a bit since then so, as you can imagine, these rules are somewhat out of date. They only provide the order in which your relatives inherit and don’t take into account unmarried partners, step-children, friends or your favourite charity.

A will allows you to choose who inherits from you, whether you wish to be buried or cremated, and who should be appointed as your children’s guardians if you die before they reach 18.

It also enables you to put in place Inheritance Tax planning so that you maximise the amount received by your beneficiaries.

Making a will with us couldn’t be easier. You complete a will questionnaire and we have a meeting. We will then prepare your will based on the information you supply.

Putting the right will in place gives you peace of mind, whatever your age.

Please click to download our will factsheet and will questionnaire or to see our fees.

As well as preparing your will for you, we can also store your will in our archive, free of charge. If so, we will register it with the Certainty National Will Register. This records that you have made a will and that we hold the original. The cost of registration is included in the cost of making your will and gives you peace of mind that your loved ones will be able to find your will when the time comes.

Trusts are used for many purposes, including making gifts that fall outside your estate, providing for minors (under 18) or planning for Inheritance Tax.

Setting up a trust is a complex process and should only be done after taking specialist advice. We can advise you on the right trust for your circumstances and on the tax consequences of any trusts you set up.

Dealing with someone’s estate when they die can be a daunting, not to say onerous, process. This is especially the case if the deceased is someone close to you and you are grieving as well.

We can take this burden away from you. Our team is highly experienced in winding up estates quickly and efficiently.

We can deal with the whole estate or, if you prefer, simply help you obtain the grant of probate (where there is a will). If a will cannot be traced, we can assist with the intestacy process and the paperwork necessary to obtain a grant of letters of administration.

We can also help you with tax planning after death by advising on deeds of variation of the will or intestacy rules. (This is possible within two years of death provided the affected beneficiary consents.)

As required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, we will always provide an estimate of our likely charges and will keep you fully updated as the matter progresses. Our fees are usually calculated on an hourly basis, with no value uplift. By contrast, most banks and building societies charge a percentage of the estate. This can be as much as 4.0% to 4.5% of the estate’s value. As a result, our costs usually prove more economical.

For detailed information on our services and costs in relation to probate and estate administration, please click here.