Wills & Probate Solicitors in Sussex

Why Choose Us?

We understand all of our clients are individuals, and that any package of services should be tailored to their needs. We are therefore able to offer a complete service whereby we will undertake all aspects of the administration of an estate, form registering the death through to dealing with the application for probate, negotiating all relevant tax issues, dealing with the collection of assets, finalising income tax affairs or liaising with accountants to do so, through the ultimate distribution of the estate.

As an alternative, if the family wish to deal with parts of the administration themselves, we are able to provide a tailored service on a fixed budget agreed at the outset to assist with those aspects of the  administration with which they feel assistance is required.

We have extensive experience in dealing with a wide variety of issues arising out of the administration of an estate following the loss of a loved one, and are experienced in negotiating inheritance tax issues with H M Revenue & Customs, liaising with financial specialists, accountants and other professionals to ensure the administration is dealt with in a professional and prompt manner.

If you have young children, you may wish to name guardians to look after them whilst they are under age.

You can include in your will some pecuniary (cash) or specific gifts of items which you actually own (such as jewellery) to family, friends or charities.

Depending on your circumstances it may be appropriate to consider the creation of trusts.  There are various types of trust, each used for a different purpose and with different tax consequences, so full advice should always be obtained.   Trusts can be used to protect assets for the benefit of disabled beneficiaries or to protect the assets from the actions of irresponsible beneficiaries and are also widely used when there is a desire to provide for successive beneficiaries to benefit such as wishing to provide for a surviving spouse during their lifetime whilst ensuring assets ultimately pass to children on their subsequent death.

When considering the type of gifts you wish to make, it is also important to consider what the likely tax consequences of such gifts will be.

If you do not make a will, then your estate will be distributed in accordance with the rules of intestacy.  These rules lay down which relatives can inherited in the event of your death and what their entitlement will be.  There is not provision for cohabitees to receive any benefit at all under these rules and spouses do not necessarily inherit the whole of the estate.

Real financial hardship could arise for your loved ones if you fail to make proper provision for them which could result in costly litigation following your death.

When advising clients in relation to their wills we are able to provide full inheritance tax advice to ensure the best of use of available allowances are made to pass your estate to your loved ones in the most tax efficient manner; but we are also able to provide full advice on the best type of gifts to make depending on the level of provision you wish to make for each beneficiary and to help you mitigate the risk of costly litigation to your estate following your death from relatives who believe you failed to make adequate provision for.