Wills and Probate Solicitors

Many people are unaware of the importance of having a valid Will in place, presuming that this document only names who will receive an inheritance, but it’s much more than this. In addition to detailing who is entitled to your assets, it can clarify who will care for children and pets and reduce the inheritance tax on your estate. For an efficiently written Will, the legal support of a solicitor is paramount.

From writing Wills to making official alterations through Codicils, our solicitors have decades of combined expertise in providing clients with the assistance they need for a smooth Wills process. Over the years, the private client team has helped clients from all backgrounds, ensuring their final wishes have been met, from those with straightforward requests to more complex matters.

When an individual dies, either an executor (where there is a valid Will) or administrator (where there was no valid Will) will be responsible for wrapping up the estate and distributing the inheritance to beneficiaries. The probate and estate administration process can be complicated with many tasks, especially for more complex estates.

Our solicitors understand how complex Probate and estate administration can be and can provide expert advice to ensure everything is done correctly and runs as smoothly as possible. Should you require additional assistance, the team can handle probate and estate administration on your behalf.

Planning for the future is an important step everyone should take, which includes putting in place a tax-efficient will that leaves your beneficiaries with the maximum possible inheritance. For example, when someone dies, their estate must pay 40% of anything above the nil rate band of £325,000. However, this 40% can be reduced or avoided entirely with a strategic solicitor.

Our solicitors are highly skilled and experienced in estate planning expertise, providing the helpful advice and guidance you need. The team has a broad knowledge of Wills and probate law and practiced helping clients from all backgrounds. With our assistance, you can be confident your estate is as tax efficient as possible.

Any of us can lose mental capacity at any stage of our life, leaving us unable to take adequate care of ourselves and make critical decisions concerning health, welfare, property, and finances. While this can seem daunting, some provisions can be implemented, allowing you peace of mind should the unthinkable happen.

Our solicitors can talk you through the full Powers of Attorney process, advising on the available types and drafting the necessary documentation. We can also provide advice and guidance to those appointed as attorneys.

Our loved ones are important to us, and we want to see them thrive in a comfortable environment. It can be an upsetting and challenging period to overcome when someone loses mental capacity. Thankfully, there are measures that can be taken to provide the support they need by applying to the court of protection to become a deputy.

At Warner Goodman, we can help the loved ones of a mentally incapacitated person put provisions in place, including drafting and submitting the Court of Protection deputyship application and advising deputies of their duties. Should additional assistance be required, our team can act as professional deputies.

Contentious probate matters can occur for various reasons, Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims, not being left an inheritance, disputes between executors, and more. If you need to claim or defend a claim, seeking the advice of a solicitor is paramount for a stress-free process.

Our solicitors have helped many individuals experiencing contentious probate predicaments, from simple matters to more complex issues. Whether you are looking to bring forward a claim or defend a claim, our private client team has the skill and experience to support you through the entire process.

A Will is a legal document that sets out several matters after someone passes away. For example, it will include their assets and who is entitled to receive them. It can also have other issues, such as who will care for children and pets.

Probate is the process following a person’s death. Where a valid Will is available, a grant of Probate will be required, and where there is no valid Will, a grant of letters of authorisation will be needed. This allows the executors or administrators to carry out specific estate administration tasks, such as collecting the deceased person’s funds.

Whether you need a grant of Probate depends entirely on the value of the deceased person’s estate. Certain banks will not require Probate should the estate’s value be below a specific figure. This is often £50,000, but some can be as little as £5,000, as set out in the Administration of Estate (Small Payments) Act 1965.

When a person passes away, and Probate has been granted, the probate service will keep the Will and provide copies to any public member should they request it.

A Wills and probate solicitors can assist with all matters, from drafting a Will, applying for Codicils, making sure a Will is tax efficient, applying for the grant of Probate or grant of letters of administration, and carrying out all aspects of estate administration.

No matter your circumstances, a Wills and probate solicitor can provide the advice and guidance you need.