Wills, Trusts & Probate

We provide a top class service across the whole range of probate, tax, trusts and elderly client work. We are happy to meet with you at our offices or to visit you at home. We can arrange hospital visits too.

Our range of services includes:

• Wills and Tax Planning
• Administration of Estates including Deeds of Variation
• Trusts
• Powers of Attorney
• Court of Protection work including Deputy Applications and Statutory Wills
• Long Term Care issues
• Disputes of Wills and Estates

Wills and Tax Planning

Making a Will is the way you can have peace of mind.  Everyone’s wishes and expectations are different and sometimes problems can appear bigger than they are.  We prepare Wills every day dealing with every imaginable family circumstance.  If you have not made a Will or think you need to change the Will you already have, our expertise and practical approach can help you have peace of mind.

Administration of Estates including Deeds of Variation

Dealing with the assets and possessions of a person who has died requires sensitivity and professionalism.  We are proud of the feedback we receive thanking us for our sympathetic but nevertheless efficient approach.  If you wish, we can either take everything out of your hands and deal with every detail.  Alternatively, if all you need is assistance with the more complicated or technical aspects of estate administration, we are happy to help.

Deeds of Variation are a useful tool that can be used to vary a Will or intestacy to suit individual circumstances. If signed within two years of death, they can mitigate tax liability.

Trusts

If you have a property or asset that you wish to give to someone else but perhaps restrict their use of it or retain some use for yourself, a trust document can often achieve that purpose.  We have vast experience in drafting, administering and dealing with trusts, covering every circumstance you might encounter whether to reduce your taxable estate when you die or to preserve your family home for future generations.

Powers of Attorney

A Power of Attorney gives someone – known as the attorney – authority to act on their behalf.  This can be in connection with their property and financial affairs, their health and welfare issues or both.  Many have found this to be a sensible precaution against the consequences of being incapacitated by accident, illness or injury.

Our partners are also happy to act as attorney where appropriate and do so regularly.

Court of Protection work including Deputyship applications and Statutory Wills

If someone becomes mentally incapacitated, it is often necessary to apply to the Court of Protection for an order that a deputy be appointed who can then handle that person’s financial affairs.

We routinely make applications to the Court of Protection and also specialise in making applications for Statutory Wills (where a will is prepared for someone who does not have the capacity to make or change their own Will) and applications for gifts for tax or other purposes.  Such applications are often contentious and require careful preparation.  We have a track record of success in this field.

Long Term Care Issues

We advise on long term care issues and have assisted clients in obtaining significant sums of money from Local Health Boards in respect of Continuing Health Care Funding.

Disputes about Wills and Estates

When things go wrong, matters are referred to our Contentious Probate Team.