Wills & probate solicitors

Around 60% of adults die without leaving a valid Will and take their chances that the intestacy rules will match what they’d like to happen to their estate. However, this means that they won’t get a say in who administers their estate and who it goes to.

If you’re co-habiting, have a second family, business assets or a taxable estate, a Will is essential planning. If you have a very limited estate and are married with no children outside of that marriage, then it’s possible the intestacy rules could match what you’d like to happen.

Either way you should take advice so that your decision is an informed one.

We hold Wills at no cost to our clients. If your or a loved one’s Will is held by us, find out how to request an existing Will here.

Any action you take to avoid a care fees assessment could be viewed by the local authority as a deliberate deprivation of assets. This may result in a refusal to fund any care. Therefore, you should take specialist advice when considering using a Will or trust to protect your assets from third party claims on your estate. Our specialist Wills and trusts advisers can help you choose the best Will.

Yes, they can and often do. It can be tricky though and local lawyers will need to be engaged to assist. Sometimes a personal appearance is necessary along with registering for local taxes.

A private client solicitor helps individuals manage their personal legal affairs, especially around personal wealth, family and planning for the future.

Their work often includes:

• Making Wills and planning how assets are passed on
• Advising on inheritance tax and how to reduce it
• Setting up and managing trusts to protect family wealth
• Administering estates after someone has died (probate)
• Supporting elderly or vulnerable clients including powers of attorney and Court of Protection matters
• Helping with lifetime planning including gifts, care fee planning, and succession

The service from this type of solicitor is personal, often long-term, and focused on helping you make confident decisions about your future and your legacy.

A Wills and probate solicitor can help you plan what will happen to your money, property and possessions when you die. They can also support your loved ones and your executors with the legal process after your death.

A specialist Wills and probate solicitor can help:

• Make a Will that’s legally valid and reflects your wishes
• Plan ahead to reduce the inheritance tax to be paid on your estate or protect assets for your family
• Apply for probate, giving someone the legal right to deal with your estate
• Act as an executor of your estate including collecting assets, paying debts and distributing money to beneficiaries
• Resolve disputes if there’s a disagreement over your Will or inheritance

Yes, the same solicitor can help with making your Will and support your executor with probate after your death. You can also choose to appoint your solicitor as an executor, so everything is handled professionally from start to finish.

Many people choose the same law firm to do everything, because it means:

• Your solicitor already understands your wishes and the details of your estate
• Your executor has professional support to deal with legal and financial matters
• The process can be quicker, smoother and less stressful for your family.

Yes, our solicitors can advise you on tax and trusts and have particular expertise in complex estate planning. Specialist advice can be especially valuable for:

• High-net-worth individuals – to reduce inheritance tax, protect family wealth and ensure assets are passed on efficiently.
• Business owners – to plan how business interests will be handled on death, including succession planning and tax reliefs.
• Parents and grandparents – who want to use trusts to provide for children or grandchildren in a structured way.
• Families with vulnerable beneficiaries – where trusts can be used to provide long-term support while safeguarding eligibility for means-tested benefits.