At Lancasters Solicitors, our Wills and Probate solicitors are experts in their field. We provide practical advice and sound solutions to all Wills and Probate matters, such as how to write a Will, how to update a provision in your existing Will, how to minimise Inheritance Tax, and how to administer an estate.
When planning your own estate or carrying out your responsibilities as an executor of someone else’s estate, you need quality, bespoke advice and guidance. No two situations are the same when it comes to our private clients, and so we never provide standard advice. We will listen to your needs carefully and create a tailored solution that best suits your circumstances. Contact us today for expert advice on Wills and Probate.
Our Wills and Probate Service
We can provide advice and services relating to the following:
- Writing Wills
- Updating Wills
- Lasting Power of Attorney
- Trusts
- Probate and Estate Administration
UK Wills Lawyers
Writing a Will is a key part of planning for your future. Put simply, a Will provides clear instructions on how you wish your assets to be distributed among your loved ones after you have passed away. If you die without a Will, the Rules of Intestacy will apply. These are a set of legal rules that decide how your assets will be distributed. They are standard, and so do not take into account your particular family situation, or your wishes.
Dying without a Will (known as dying intestate), can cause innumerable problems and create unnecessary stress for family members already grieving your loss. By having a clear, unambiguous Will in place, you will protect them from the pressure and anxiety of managing your affairs and having to guess your wishes.
Writing a Will
If you are considering writing your Will, it is important that it meets certain criteria, otherwise it will not be valid or enforceable. Our Wills and Probate solicitors will ensure the legalities of your Will are met, minimising any risk of its contents being challenged after your death.
For a Will to be valid, it must:
- be created by someone over 18;
- be made voluntarily;
- be created by you when you are of sound mind;
- be in writing;
- be signed by you in the presence of two witnesses who are both over 18; and
- be signed by your two witnesses, in your presence.
For your Will to have full effect, it should take account of your entire estate (property, bank accounts, investments, savings, personal belongings, etc.) and be up to date.
Updating your Will
Changes to your Will can be made by adding new documents to it, called codicils, saving the effort of having to create an entirely new Will. You should contact your lawyer when you think any change in circumstances could affect your existing Will, for example when you have a child or grandchild, buy a new property or marry or divorce.
Contact us for advice on writing and updating your Will. In order for us to give you the tailored advice for your situation, please fill in our Wills Questionnaire.
Probate and Estate Administration
After a person’s death, there are various tasks that need to be completed, one of the most complex being to administer their estate. If you have been named as an executor in someone’s Will, you will be responsible for carrying out this task properly. This can be a challenging job – especially where the deceased’s estate is large, complex or where the instructions in the Will are disputed – and comes at a difficult time.
Before you can start to administer the estate, you are likely to need to apply for Probate. Probate gives legal authority to the executor to begin dealing with the estate. You will need to send certain information when you apply to the Probate registry, including a completed Probate form and Inheritance Tax form.
Where the deceased died with no Will, Letters of Administration must be granted before a relative or close friend can begin to administer the estate.
Our team will take care of the practicalities of Probate and Letters of Administration for you, allowing you to spend time with family and friends.
