Manchester Estate Planning | Slater Heelis Solicitors

Wills & Probate Solicitors

Writing a will is one of the most important legal decisions you can make towards safeguarding the long-term security of your spouse, children and assets.

Our specialist wills and probate solicitors work closely with you when drafting a watertight document that is directly in line with your personal circumstances and priorities.

Our solicitors are here to ensure you are making use of all available inheritance tax reliefs and exemptions, and that your assets are protected from the impact of long-term residential fees. Our expertise in drafting more complex will arrangements that account for a range of beneficiaries and trusts, such as enabling clients to make provisions for children or dependants from a previous relationship, is essential to achieve a clear outcome.

Many of our clients simply don’t have time to administer an entire estate themselves, nor to claim all tax exemptions that are available to them. Our wills and probate team can support on as much or as little of the estate administration as is required, from full administration to obtaining a grant of representation. Where appropriate, our lawyers can also advise on the content of supporting documents such as a letter of wishes.

What Happens If You Don’t Register a Will?

Approximately 6 in 10 adults currently living in the UK have not registered a will. This means that these people are leaving their entire estate, finances and assets to the ruling of UK intestacy law – which a person’s family has no control over.

Without a formal will, an unmarried partner does not have automatic entitlement to key aspects of the estate, a family home is liable to be sold and children may be unintentionally disinherited when the eventual ruling is announced. That’s why it always pays to think ahead and prepare for any long-term possibility well in advance.

When May I Require a Probate Specialist?

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding an estate, we would strongly recommend appointing an experienced probate solicitor to manage your situation. A lawyer is particularly important when the deceased died without a will, there are complex agreements in place, the estate is valued over the £325,000 inheritance tax threshold, or there is a possibility that the estate is bankrupt (insolvent).

Our Services

Our experienced wills and probate solicitors can provide the following services:

• Preparation of a will
• Reviewing and updating an existing will
• Estate and inheritance tax planning
• Administration of estates and obtaining grants of representation
• Drafting and administration of trusts
• Inheritance Act and disputed estate claims
• Setting up an asset protection trust
• Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney
• Court of Protection applications