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Services > Family, Home & Personal Law
Wills, Probate, Tax and Trusts
 People are living longer than ever before and the need to protect accumulated wealth for your own use, or to pass on to your heirs, is vital. House price inflation (despite recent price falls) means many homeowners fall into the Inheritance Tax net and with more and more people buying second homes, in the UK or abroad, there is increased need to use specialist advice to protect estates.
Wills
The process for drawing up a Will is generally far more straightforward than most people believe. It is an action that can provide you with the knowledge that, in the event of your death, your wishes can be acted on promptly and in a timely manner. It also ensures that the distribution of assets can be undertaken quickly and efficiently to provide security for your family.
We can advise on the drafting and updating of Wills to ensure that as your circumstances change, your Will continues to reflect your wishes.
Elderly client services (incl. Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Lasting Powers of Attorney)
Trusts provide considerable scope to pass on assets or reduce tax liability by placing the asset outside of your estate. We can act as Trustees on your behalf or draft Trust documentation to place the Trusteeship with your nominated individuals.
Powers of Attorney and Lasting Powers of Attorney allow you to place the day-to-day administration of your finances with an Attorney. A Lasting Power of Attorney for property and affairs or in respect of personal welfare matters should be drawn up whilst a client is able to give instructions so that affairs can be dealt with in circumstances of diminishing capabilities.
Our specialist practitioners will explain how these documents can be best used to support your circumstances and will draft them in accordance with your wishes.
We can deal with issues involving the Office of the Public Guardian and the Court of Protection including applications for appointing Deputies to deal with the affairs of persons no longer capable of managing their own affairs.
Inheritance Tax planning
The threshold for Inheritance Tax will reach just £325,000, for the 2009/2010 tax year. Inheritance Tax is a flat rate tax at 40%, payable on the value of the estate that exceeds the threshold figure.
A wide range of tax planning measures can be taken to reduce the potential for paying Inheritance Tax. We can advise you on the best options for your particular situation.
Probate and administration of estates on death
Our Probate specialists provide advice with understanding and sensitivity when winding up and administrating estates. They can establish whether it is necessary to obtain a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration to allow assets to be collected and distributed in accordance with the wishes of the deceased or in accordance with the rules of intestacy where there is no valid Will.
Where appropriate, the service includes tax saving advice to ensure the estate is passed on, in as efficient a manner as possible, to the beneficiaries.
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