Will Solicitors Manchester, Preston, Leeds

Q: What happens if I do not make a Will?

The law sets out rules if you die without a Will . For example, if the deceased is survived by a spouse/civil partner and children, the surviving spouse/civil partner will receive all the personal chattels and a legacy of £250,000. The balance is divided as to half to the surviving spouse/civil partner and the remaining half to the children. If you are not married, your partner will not inherit from your estate. We would strongly advise that a Will is made, allowing you to provide for your intended beneficiaries and to protect your family and loved ones.

More about Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts

Our team of experienced Wills, trusts and probate solicitors provides a range of Wills, probate, tax, and trusts services to help you manage your affairs and protect your assets. Planning for the future is an essential part of life, and at Forbes Solicitors, we can help you to ensure that your wishes are carried out after you have gone. From drafting Wills and creating trusts to administering estates and managing tax affairs, we can provide you with the expert legal advice and support you need to plan for the future and protect your loved ones.

What is Wills and Probate?

Wills and probate are legal processes that involve the distribution of a person's assets and property after they have passed away. A Will is a legal document that outlines a person's wishes for the distribution of their assets, while probate is the legal process of dealing with the assets and property of someone who has died.

Forbes Solicitors are experts in these complex areas of law, but you will find the legal advice we offer is straightforward and easy to understand. Whether you are a family member or executor, dealing with a Will after a person's death can be a complex affair, which is why our team is dedicated to ensuring the process is dealt with care and compassion. We can also offer fixed fee services for Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Probate.

Forbes Solicitors is a member of the Certainty National Registry of Wills. Registering your Will with Certainty ensures that it is easily traceable by your beneficiaries and not overlooked.

What is Wills and Probate?

Forbes Solicitors is a member of the Certainty National Registry of Wills. Registering your Will with Certainty ensures that it is easily traceable by your beneficiaries and not overlooked.

We found Forbes Solicitors to be very approachable, professional and efficient in obtaining grant of probate in relation to a deceased relative and providing timely advice to us as executors. We would strongly recommend their services.

Anonymous

They are just a lovely, caring team. They have a can-do attitude and no problem is too small or trivial.

Legal 500

Very client focused, with the ability to work with other professionals exceptionally well

Legal 500

I used Forbes to deal with my late Fathers estate and sell his property. They provided an excellent service guiding me through the process "in plain English" and always answered queries I had quickly and clearly.

Paul

We used Forbes Solicitors to get our wills and LPAs done. The service was friendly, professional and efficient couldn't have been better.

Paul

We don’t usually post public reviews. However, we would like to take this opportunity to say how we found you and your Forbes Team very efficient and well-organised.
We were impressed that all the paperwork was ready on the day and in the time frame discussed.
We had clear advice and explanations and you are very professional and approachable.
We would recommend you to others.

Anonymous

I would like to thank Melanie Wain for the excellent service she has delivered supporting our family. Working with elderly people can be difficult but we really appreciate the consideration Melanie has shown and have great confidence in her.
Unsolicited positive feedback is all too rare these days, I trust Forbes Solicitors can recognise the contribution Melanie is making.

Andy

Wills, Probate, Tax and Trusts FAQs

Why do I need to make a Will?

We spend our lives working to provide for ourselves and our loved ones. You may have a house or flat, shares, savings, investments as well as your own personal possessions. All of these assets are your "estate". Making a Will ensures that when you die your estate is shared according to your wishes and your loved ones are protected.

Everyone should have a Will but it is even more important if you have children, you own property or have savings, investments, insurance policies or you own a business.

Why should I use a solicitor when making my Will?

Making a Will may not be as straightforward as it might seem. Once you have decided to make a Will, it is vital that it is done properly. Trying to make your own Will without legal assistance can lead to mistakes or lack of clarity and could mean that your Will is invalid. If you have a number of beneficiaries, your family situation is complex or your finances are complicated it is even more important that you get a professionally trained specialist solicitor to prepare your Will.

Our team of highly skilled Wills, Probate, Tax and Trust solicitors understand that dealing with the repercussions of a Will can be a stressful time for all involved. We are dedicated to ensuring that the process is as smooth as possible.

What do I need to think about when making a Will?

Firstly, you should list what you have in your estate, then you can decide who you would like to leave it to (your beneficiaries) and in what shares. You also need to think about:

Who will look after your children, if you have any (Guardians)

Who should carry out the wishes contained in your Will (your Executors)

What happens if any of your beneficiaries die before you

Any other wishes you may have, for example, whether you want to be buried or cremated

What happens if I do not make a Will?

The law sets out rules if you die without a Will. For example, if the deceased is survived by a spouse/civil partner and children, the surviving spouse/civil partner will receive all the personal chattels and a legacy of £250,000. The balance is divided as to half to the surviving spouse/civil partner and the remaining half to the children.

If you are not married, your partner will not inherit from your estate.

We would strongly advise that a Will is made, allowing you to provide for your intended beneficiaries and to protect your family and loved ones.

When should I update my Will?

Once you have written your Will it is a good idea to review it every 3-5 years to ensure it reflects your wishes. You should also review your Will after major life changes such as:

Getting married or entering a civil partnership - a Will is automatically cancelled by these events

Getting divorced

The birth of children or other relatives you wish to benefit, for example, grandchildren or nieces and nephews

A significant shift in your financial situation.

Am I able to contest a Will?

In the unfortunate instance that you are not happy with the circumstances of a Will, you may be able to contest it. If you feel as though you have not received the outcome you were expecting or if you have relied upon receiving inheritance from a family member, you can raise a dispute with one of our specialist Contentious Wills, Trusts and Probate solicitors.

Can I make gifts during my lifetime to save paying inheritance tax (IHT)?

You can reduce the value of your estate for IHT purposes by making gifts during your lifetime. If you have surplus income or capital you can give cash or assets away to your beneficiaries. There are various exemptions and reliefs available, for example:

Gifts to spouse/civil partner - all such gifts are free of IHT
Annual exemption of £3,000 - everyone can make gifts of up to £3,000 every year. Any unused portion can be carried forward for one year
Small gifts of up to £250 - gifts of upto £250 to any one person (cannot be used in conjunction with the £3,000)
Wedding gifts - each parent can give £5,000, grandparents £2,500 and others £1,000 to a couple who are marrying
Gifts out of income - if you regularly have surplus annual income you can establish a pattern of regular gifting out of that surplus. The gifts must be genuinely out of surplus income and must not leave you having to resort to you capital to maintain your usual lifestyle.
Gifts to charityOther gifts to individuals - can be of any amount and providing you survive 7 years no IHT will be payable

It is important to remember that for IHT purposes, you must not retain any benefit from something you have given away. If you do retain any benefit, you will be treated as if you had not made the gift and the value of what you have given away will be included in the valuation of your estate when you die.

You should also be conscious of the tax implications for costly gifts. If you have given away assets with a value of more than the nil rate band £325,000 and you die within 7 years, the Executor or Administrator of your estate may be required to pay IHT.

Before you begin to gift your estate, it is important to speak to a professional regarding what is covered by exemptions. Our Wills, Probate, Tax and Trusts legal team will ensure you are not caught out by any unknown regulations.

How much can I leave when I die without having to pay Inheritance Tax (IHT)?

The IHT limit known as the nil rate band is currently £325,000. If the total value of all your assets including your house is more than the nil rate band, your estate may attract a 40% IHT charge.

Your estate may qualify for a lower rate of 36% if more than 10% of a component of your net estate is left to charity.

If you are married you may wish to leave your whole estate to your surviving partner, making use of the spouse exemption, with no IHT to pay. On the second death the unused nil rate band can be transferred to your surviving spouse/civil partner - the estate may now benefit from two nil rate bands, up to £650,000.

In addition to the standard nil rate band (currently £325,000) there is a residence nil rate band (currently £125,000, £150,000 from 6 April 2019) available when residential property is left to direct descendants. There are various conditions attached to the residence nil rate band and certain criteria need to be met so it may not be available in full or in every situation.

If you own any agricultural property or a business/shares in a business operating as a trading company (i.e. one which does not hold assets for investment), you may be able to claim relief from paying IHT, which can apply to a lifetime gift or be part of your Will. You should seek advice on your individual situation as in each case certain criteria must be met and the rules are quite complex

I am an Executor for someone who has just died, what do I do?

As Executor, you are responsible for dealing with the deceased's estate in accordance with the Will. In most cases you will need to apply to the court for a Grant of Probate. This document proves that you are authorised to deal with the estate. We can handle all of the procedures relating to the administration of the estate and give you advice and support at each stage in carrying out your duties.

When is Probate / Grant required?

The term Probate refers to the legal process of dealing with a person's estate after they have passed away. If the deceased left a Will, the executors may need to apply for a Grant of Probate before any estate administration can proceed. If there is no Will, Personal Representatives must apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration.

The question of when a Grant is required heavily relies upon on the deceased's assets and the value of their estate. For example if the deceased owned a property in their sole name, a Grant is most definitely required. We are able to advise as to whether or not you would need to apply for a Grant once we know the assets of the estate.

Dealing with the estate of a deceased person can be a difficult task, which is why our team are on hand to help. We are able to take care of matters in relation to the administration of the estate as well as any disputed matters that may have arisen.

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Our experts are available to advise and guide you on a wide-range of legal matters. Feel free to get in touch.

0800 689 3206 - Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00

If you have an enquiry then please fill in your details and someone will contact you.

0800 975 2463 - Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00

Please note that our offices will be closed from midday, Friday 20th December 2024

The offices will be open as usual on Monday 23rd December 2024.

The offices will then be closed from Tuesday 24th December through to Wednesday 1st January (inc), reopening as usual from 2nd January 2025.

The emergency contact number during this time is - 01772 220022 or 01254 675050.

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