Wills & Administration of estates

Wills & Estate Planning

Making a Will is an important process as you are deciding who should benefit from your estate when you pass away. It is also a way of ensuring your loved ones are afforded for financially following your death. The process of making a Will can involve Inheritance Tax planning, asset protection and making decisions as to how to pass on your assets to your loved ones. This requires careful consideration and our aim is to make this process as easy as possible while providing comprehensive advice and practical estate planning solutions.
We offer advice on:-

• Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney;
• Succession and estate planning for Inheritance Tax purposes;
• Protection of family assets;
• Creating trusts for vulnerable or minor beneficiaries; and
• Gifting assets to children.

If you are considering making a Will, gifting assets or require advice regarding estate planning, please contact us to arrange a consultation with one of our expert solicitors.Administration of EstatesWe understand losing a loved one is an extremely difficult time and there are several matters that need to be dealt with when an individual has passed away. This includes dealing with and finalising your loved one’s financial affairs. This process is known as the administration of an estate and involves accounting for all assets owned by an individual and paying any debts or expenses that are due from their estate. On completion of the administration of an estate the remaining assets are distributed to the relevant beneficiaries either in accordance with the Will or the laws of Intestacy.

A Grant of Probate is often required to administer an estate. This is an application to the Court to obtain a Court Order known as a Grant which enables the persons entitled to deal with the estate to administer it in accordance with the Will or with the laws of Intestacy.

Our aim is to assist and support you through this difficult time by providing comprehensive advice and services to administer the estate of your loved one.
If you require advice regarding the administration of an estate, please contact us to arrange a consultation with one of expert solicitors.‍

Estate Disputes‍

We provide advice and services on various disputes and claims that may arise surrounding a person’s Will or the administration of their estate after they have passed away.
It is possible to challenge the validity of an individual’s Will if there is a belief and evidence that the person:-

• may have been mentally incapable of making a Will;
• may have been unduly influenced during the making of the Will;
• did not have knowledge or provide approval of the contents of the Will; or
• the Will was not compliant with the legislative formalities of making a Will.

It is also possible to make a claim against the estate of a deceased person if you believe you have not been adequately afforded for in their Will or under the laws of Intestacy. This a complex area of law and only certain individuals can bring such a claim. It is important to seek advice as soon as possible after an individual has passed away if you believe you have not been adequately afforded in the estate of:-

• a spouse or civil partner;
• a former spouse or civil partner;
• a cohabiting partner that you lived with for at least two years before their date of death;
• a parent (this includes adult and minor children);
• an individual that treated you as the child of their marriage/civil partnership (e.g. step-children);
• any other individual that was maintaining you financially (including accommodation) immediately prior to their death.

We also offer advice and services in the event a dispute arises during the course of the administration of an estate. Examples of this include disputes relating to how an asset should be administered, an amount due to a beneficiary, inappropriate actions of the personal representative of the estate or delay in administering the estate that exceeds twelve months from the date of death.

Disputes in relation to Wills and estates are usually complex cases that require expert advice and legal representation. If you feel any of the above circumstances apply to you, please contact us to arrange a consultation with one of our expert solicitors.