Wills

If you do not make a Will and the value of your estate is over a certain amount then your assets may not pass to your immediate family.

Ensuring that you have a valid Will which is legally correct avoids this possibility. The cost of making a Will to avoid intestacy will be less than the cost of dealing with an estate where there in no Will and will ensure that your estate passes to those closest to you.

Rising property prices mean that more and more estates are liable to Inheritance Tax – currently 40%. Careful Will drafting and tax planning can reduce the amount of IHT paid.

Probate

After death an executor has to arrange valuations of all the deceased’s property, apply for a Grant of Probate and make sure that the estate is distributed in accordance with the terms of the Will. Our probate department can assist executors with this procedure and ensure that the estate is dealt with as speedily and efficiently as possible and advice on maximising the tax position by way of Deed of Variation. If the deceased left no Will we can advise on intestacy and obtain Letters of Administration.

Lasting Power of Attorney

If you want someone to undertake certain responsibilities on your behalf – either business or personal financial affairs they will need a Power of Attorney. Signing an Lasting Power of Attorney means that the authority can continue even if the donor is no longer mentally capable.

Court of Protection

If a member of your family no longer has the mental capacity to handle their own affairs and they have not signed an Lasting Power of Attorney you may need to apply to the Court of Protection for a receiver to be appointed to deal with their financial affairs.

We can help to ensure that the application proceeds smoothly avoiding unnecessary delays.

Disputes on Death
If you feel unfairly treated by a Will of a deceased relative or your relative was influenced to make a Will that didn’t reflect their wishes or they were not mentally capable to make a Will, we can advise you on the options available.

If you or a relative are housebound we are happy to visit you at home.