The importance of a properly drafted will to ensure that your assets are dealt with as you wish with maximum tax efficiency cannot be overstated. We provide a specialist will drafting service and personal, sympathetic and efficient expertise when administering a deceased’s estate at a time we appreciate is difficult for the family.

Please consult us for clear advice on the following areas:

• Wills
• Probate and Administration of Estates
• Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Inheritance Tax Planning
• Trusts
• Court of Protection Matters

Client Welfare and Lasting Powers of Attorney

As we get older there are often important life decisions that need to be taken. We advise our clients to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (which replaced Enduring Powers of Attorney in October 2007) so that a client will have the security of knowing who will look after their affairs, including decision making, should they not be able to do so.

We also advise on long term residential care; how it is to be paid for and the impact that may have on a family.

• Mental capacity/substituted decision making
• Enduring / Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Advice on care home fees and NHS funded care
• Care contracts
• Court of Protection receivership
• Statutory wills 

Wills

A Will, of course, is not just for the elderly and means you can determine exactly who gets what after your death and who would look after any minor children.

If you die without a Will the State then decides how your estate will be distributed in accordance with the rules on intestacy. This can be a costly procedure and will reduce the value of your estate. It can also be emotionally difficult for those you would want to benefit from the estate.

With a carefully drafted Will you can also save on Inheritance Tax and make full use of the nil rate band.

We also act as executors and adminstrators for many estates.

Estate Planning

There may be ways for you to save tax for yourself and your family. We will advise you on the most straightforward and efficient way to go about planning your lifetime estate.

You may also be considering living with other family members, either in a "granny flat" or within the household and may be thinking to make a joint purchase or contribute capital towards a purchase. There may, however, be legal and tax implications that you have not considered and before proceeding it is prudent to take legal advice.

We will advise on:

• Lifetime capital tax planning
• Lifetime tax planning through the use of trusts
• Making regular gifts out of income
• Utilising annual allowances
• Shared accomodation