A Wills & Probate Solicitor is a qualified and experienced legal professional who provides services to individuals and families concerning estate planning and the administration of an estate following a person’s death.
When you lose someone close to you, and one of life’s most challenging events unfolds, the support and expertise we at Lanyon Bowdler can offer will be of both comfort and assistance.
Our Wills & Probate Solicitors are vastly experienced; you will find our expertise of great strength when you need it most. Our approach to your affairs will be warm, personalised and compassionate.
Edward is a partner and heads the Private Client Team, he comments “I enjoy what I do, I really like meeting different people and helping them understand what they need to do to secure their futures and those of their loved ones. I’m always here for a chat if someone wants advice, in fact our whole team are a friendly and approachable bunch.”
The team is regarded highly by its clients. One source states: ‘Lanyon Bowdler give clients the feeling that they are big enough to cope, but small enough to care. They are a large, growing and aspirational firm, yet they do a brilliant job of providing clients with a warm welcome, good communication and a service that feels bespoke to the client’s needs‘.
The 2024 edition of The legal 500 says; Lanyon Bowdler advises clients across the whole of Shropshire, Herefordshire and North Wales. It has extensive experience in advising on trusts, estate planning and administration as well as other areas covering business property and agricultural relief.
Testimonials
‘I have worked with the team at Lanyon Bowdler team on two complex estate matters. From the outset the team operated a no surprises approach. They identified all the key issues in both estates and provided a clear workplan and associated fee structure’.
‘The team worked well with: the commercial land team and other partners, such as estate agents and accountants. They have also developed a good relationship with HMRC, critical to a successful outcome’.
The 2024 edition of Chambers UK ranks us in Band 1 for Shrewsbury & Surrounds and says ‘Lanyon Bowdler’s Shrewsbury branch has a broad private client offering. The team advises clients on trusts, estate planning and administration, tax planning, contentious probate and powers of attorney.
Strengths
“They appear to have the appropriate in-house expertise or access to external experts to be able to deal with complex cases.”
“Partners provided clear leadership and communicated at key points in the process. They were supported by a very capable team who handled all day-to-day matters very efficiently and in a friendly manner.”
In this episode, you’ll hear solicitors Edward Rees and Neil Davies discuss the importance of good legal advice in relation to The Court of Protection, lasting powers of attorney, wills, and estate administration.
In contrast to what many believe, the ‘common law’ does not exist as such, irrespective of the length of time a couple has been together and even if they have children.
If you are unmarried and pass away without a will in place, your partner will receive nothing; your estate will go to your blood relatives.
You may think that, if you die, you can trust your family to pass on that which you owned to your partner and children. However, not making the necessary provisions may be costly to your loved ones when you are gone.
Similarly, if a partner who is not married or in Registered Civil Partnership were to die, all his/her estate and property would go to their children (in a trust if under 18 and this trust would not benefit the surviving partner).
Hence the importance of a will; it informs the relevant people what assets and monies should go to whom, and reduces the possibility of mistakes.
A will is the best way of ensuring that your partner and children will be provided for in the event of your death.
Writing a will may be something which is easy to put off, yet it is one of the most important things you can do. So, do not procrastinate any longer: contact one of Lanyon Bowdler’s friendly and approachable lawyers, and let us help you to make sure your savings and assets go to the right people.
Whatever your age, wealth or marital status, writing a Will is of incredible importance. People often assume that their partner, children or grandchildren will automatically inherit their estate when they die, but it is seldom that simple.
The situation may become more complicated if there has been a divorce in the family, and if you are not married or in a registered civil partnership, your partner may end up with nothing. Making a will protects your wishes and avoids disputes in the future.
Writing a will is also an important part of inheritance tax planning, helping to ensure that you do not pay more inheritance tax than is necessary.
The main things that should be included in your will are:
We are experts in our field and will guide you through the whole process from beginning to end. Based in our local offices, we have expert wills and probate solicitors in Shrewsbury, Hereford, Oswestry, Telford, Bromyard, Ludlow and Conwy.
A significant concern when making a will is not only providing for a partner or spouse, but also provision for one’s children.
Family relationships are often much more complex than they might have been in the past, with extended families and second, third or fourth marriages increasingly common.
Making a will to provide for children might include providing for:
It is very important to get legal advice when making a will to provide for children; disagreements are becoming increasingly common, especially when there are children involved from more than one relationship.
It may not necessarily be children who dispute a will; in some instances former spouses, registered civil partners or partners who have brought up the deceased’s children may contest a will.
We understand that this information is complicated and potentially overwhelming. Please get in touch with us and we can explain what needs to be done.
You can also include your children as beneficiaries in your will even if they are very young. In this situation it is a good idea to think about what age you would like your children to reach before being able to access their inheritance. Whilst the child is under that age the inheritance can be managed by Trustees – who can be appointed in your will.
It is a good idea to keep on top of your will and review it regularly. We know and appreciate that things can change quickly. If you need any advice on this matter please do get in touch.
If you die without a will, your estate will pass automatically under the Intestacy Rules. This process is known as dying ‘intestate’ – and may not always result in the outcome you want for your loved ones.
The laws of intestacy give priority to your closest relative, with spouses coming first in line, followed by children, parents and siblings. This may appear to make sense; however, modern families are becoming increasingly complex. These laws can create problems and heartache.
For example, if you live with your partner but did not marry or enter into a registered civil partnership, under the intestacy laws your property would be left to your closest relatives according to the order above. Your partner may be left with nowhere to live.
An efficient process.
Facing one’s own mortality is not easy. Lanyon Bowdler’s solicitor made the whole process less emotional and I was confident that my loved ones would find it relatively pain free and easier to cope. I would recommend Lanyon Bowdler without reservation or hesitation.
Since dealing with Lanyon Bowdler they have been diligent, efficient and at all times very helpful along with being structured in dealing with matters, fees and clarity on all levels. Thank you.
I was clearly informed of progress step by step. The service you provided was very good.
All work carried out effectively and efficiently.
I felt safe that Lanyon Bowdler understood both my concerns and requirements. I would use again and recommend.
An excellent service with solicitors that you can talk to and who give you a clear understanding of all necessary legal implications and interpretations.
From start to finish we had excellent service. Friendly, approachable and professional.
Very clear, concise advice and guidance, easy to understand.
Good service provided throughout with clear communication throughout with all options explored.
I can thoroughly recommend the highly professional and supportive service received over the last few months.
Responsive, supportive, approachable, clear and empathetic.
Professional and prompt communication. Supportive and client focused.
Whenever I have had need to contact Lanyon Bowdler I have always received a fast, concise and friendly response.
Definitely would use Lanyon Bowdler again if I need the use of a solicitor.
Smooth and efficient service from very professional firm.
We were particularly impressed with the quality of work, the speed and excellent communication.
Very friendly and approachable. Very good advice
Very professional and approachable. I was updated as to progress regularly. The final costs reflected good value for the service provided.
Great Service; Lanyon Bowdler were excellent from the outset. Straightforward and easy process. I just sat back and waited.
Everything has been professional, efficient and courteous throughout and we are very pleased, both with the service and with the eventual outcome of our case. Everything was first class and exceeded our expectations. Thank you again for providing such splendid service. It is really appreciated.
There are five basic stages to the estate administration process; these include: ascertaining the nature and extent of assets, valuing assets, applying for probate, distributing the bequests in the will and drawing up accounts detailing how the estate was distributed. These are then sent on to the beneficiaries.
If a beneficiary contests a will, this can delay probate. Sensitive probate matters can become contentious and stressful – and then result in the delay of the administration of an estate.
Whereas a will is a legal document that sets out the wishes of the deceased, probate is the process of executing the will according to those wishes. It involves organising the distribution of money and assets – after paying debts and inheritance tax where necessary.
It will not be possible legally to transfer the deceased person’s finances and property to the beneficiaries until you obtain Grant of Probate. In short, the beneficiaries will not be able to inherit what had been intended for them.
If the person who died owned the property, shares or money jointly, probate may not be required.
Every situation is unique. Everyone deserves carefully delivered advice tailored to their own set of circumstances.
There is no such thing as a standard estate, and there are a wide range of factors potentially involved in sorting out someone’s assets. Once we have gained an understanding of the deceased person’s Estate, we will provide you with a tailor made pricing proposal.
For a fixed fee probate service talk to our experienced team today.
This is the name of the document issued to you by the Probate Registry. It confirms your right to administer the estate of the deceased. This includes cashing the assets of the estate and distributing them as detailed in the will.
When someone dies, you will have to find out if probate is needed to deal with their estate. Probate isn’t necessary every time a person passes away; it depends on the value of the deceased’s assets and how their assets were held.
In England and Wales, probate is not usually required for small estates in which there is no property and only a small amount of money. If the estate contains property or land, it is not considered a small estate. An estate will certainly be considered small if its total value is less than £5,000, but the threshold is often higher. Banks and financial institutions have their own limit; you will need to check with each of the organisations holding the money. Probate will be needed if any assets are held in the deceased’s sole name that are valued above the probate threshold.
If you don’t obtain probate when someone dies, but probate is needed to administer their estate, beneficiaries will not be able to receive their inheritance. The assets of the deceased will be frozen and held in a state of limbo, as no one will have the legal authority to access, sell or transfer the assets.
Handling an estate which has no will usually involves a family member acting as the personal representative of the deceased and administering the estate.
The personal representative applies to the court for a Grant of Representation, to enable him to administer the estate.
If there is no will, the Rules of Intestacy will determine the distribution of an estate and who is entitled to claim from it.
The personal representative can appoint a professional, such as a solicitor, to deal with the estate’s administration.
Intestacy involves an unfamiliar legal processes, with potential financial complications and a great deal of worry and stress – especially without professional help from a probate solicitor. Seeking help at an early stage can speed up the process and make sure that the probate process goes smoothly, at a time already difficult enough for families.
When someone dies without a valid will there are strict inheritance laws in place. These are known as the Rules of Intestacy. They apply in England and Wales.
The Rules of Intestacy can be quite harsh as they do not often bear in mind modern family relationships. For example, no provisions are made for unmarried and unregistered partners. This means that the surviving partner will not automatically inherit any part of the estate that was owned in the sole name of the deceased.
Despite this, a partner can often make a valid inheritance claim. Alternatively, the family can (in certain circumstances, if they agree to) legally vary the distribution on intestacy in order to provide for the partner.
The Rules of Intestacy only recognise natural and adopted children for the purpose of inheritance; step-children are not acknowledged. In spite of this, in many cases step-children have a valid claim.
You can see that situations may quickly become complex. The best way to make it clear who should inherit your property and possessions after you die is by making a will.
A Grant of Letters of Administration is the required legal document when dealing with the estate of someone who has died without a will.
In this situation, one of the deceased’s relatives will need to go through the probate and estate administration process. This person is known as the ‘administrator’. Executors and Administrators are known generically as Personal Representatives.
If you’re the administrator, one of the first things you’ll be required to do is obtain a Grant of Letters of Administration. This is a document issued by the Probate Registry and gives you the legal authority to deal with the estate.
If you are unsure about anything you have read, please contact us for advice. We offer a warm and professional service at this difficult time.
Our specialist Wills and Probate Solicitors represent clients in Shropshire, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales, Cheshire and Staffordshire, as well as across the Midlands.
Lanyon Bowdler have offices with expert teams of lawyers in Hereford, Bromyard, Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Oswestry, Telford, and Conwy in North Wales.
For more information, please get in touch with the team or call the general enquiries number located at the top of the page.
We are one of the most recognised law firms in Shropshire, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales, Birmingham and the Midlands. We offer a wide range of pricing options including fixed fees and service level guarantees.
As a leading law firm, we regularly handle wills and probate for clients. We can represent you wherever you reside in England or Wales.
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Mutually Irrevocable Wills and Why You Should Never do Them – Edward Rees and Claire Vale
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Inheritance Act Claim
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Seaman’s Will Upheld
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Contentious Probate Disputes
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Private Client: Hot news! – Edward Rees and Aimee Johnson
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Understanding The Probate Pathway – Edward Rees and Aimee Johnson
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Private Client – Myth-busting
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