Wills and Probate

Everyone should make a Will.
It is essential that single people, unmarried partners, childless couples, and divorced people make a Will.
We offer competitive rates.

Making your Will

By making a Will you could:-

Choose who you want to inherit your assets.
Minimise your Inheritance Tax.
Appoint guardians for your children.
Provide for your children if you are separated or unmarried.
Choose your Executors/Trustees.
Strike a balance between your children and your spouse on a second marriage.
Make provisions for friends or charity.
Set up a trust for a mentally handicapped person with particular reference to care fees.

Probate and Administration

When a person dies it is necessary to legally appoint someone to deal with his or her estate (money, property and possessions). If there is a Will this person will be the executor of the Will. If there is no will your next of kin will usually act as administrator.
In most cases it will be necessary to apply to the Probate Court for a Grant, which is needed to cash the assets of the estate so that they can be distributed to the beneficiaries of the estate.
At Charltons we can assist you in completing the Inland Revenue Account and Oath needed to apply for the Grant, in collecting the assets of the estate, transferring any property, and distributing to the correct beneficiaries.

Our Costs

Wills

£80.00 + VAT for a simple single Will.
£110.00 + VAT for two "mirror" Wills for married couples or partners.

Please note that if the Will is complicated and/or involves inheritance tax planning, setting up a trust or severing the joint tenancy, an additional cost will be involved, details of whch will be discussed at your appointment.

Probate

It is very difficult to estimate at the outset of a matter in Probate cases what our costs will be. We do NOT charge a percentage value element of the estate but base our costs on an hourly rate for work which is actually undertaken by us, and do NOT take a percentage profit uplift.