Wills & Probate
Our Wills and Probate Lawyers are approachable, highly qualified and experienced.
Whether you want to make a Will or need help acting as an Executor, we are here to assist you with expert, friendly and easy to understand advice.
Making a Will
Making a Will and reviewing it regularly is the only way you can guarantee that your Estate will go to the people and/or organisations that you want to benefit. If you have not made a Will, then your hard-earned assets will pass to the people dictated by statutory law and they may not be the ones you want to inherit.
Making a Will gives you reassurance, reducing any worry you may have about how your money, property and possessions will be dealt with after your death and it will give your family certainty about your wishes at a time of emotional distress.
If you are thinking about making a Will or updating one, we cover a broad area of legal advice, including:
- Appointing Executors
- Choosing Guardians to care for your children if they are under 18
- Inheritance tax and tax planning advice
- Making charitable gifts
- Gifts of money or property
- Rights of occupation and protection of inheritance
- Trusts
- Updating Wills using Codicils
Here at Lucas Law, we try to make the experience as stress-free as possible. As well as appointments at the office or via video call, we can visit you at home or in hospital to take your instructions.
Our standard charge for a Will is £175 plus VAT and £250 plus VAT for two Wills. Codicils are £100 plus VAT each and £180 plus VAT for two.
Probate
Probate is a term given to the process of administering someone’s assets when they die. Sometimes it is referred to as the Administration of an Estate.
An Estate is considered to be made up of the money, property and any possessions someone had at the time of their death. Probate involves liquidating assets, paying liabilities and distributing the Estate to its beneficiaries. The administration process can often be complicated by issues such as intestacy, inheritance tax or disputes.
Assets in an estate usually remain frozen until the Probate Registry gives the authority (known as a Grant of Representation) to the individual nominated in the Will, the “Executor”. If there was no Will then it is up to the most appropriate member of the family to act on behalf of the estate. They will need to apply for a Grant to be formally appointed to the role.
We want to make this complicated area of law accessible to our clients, who often need help dealing with legal issues at this difficult time. We offer two different services to provide you with the support you need:
- Full Administration Service.
We will undertake the full administration of the Estate on your behalf, including liaising with all financial organisations, pension companies, HMRC, local authorities, insurance agents, etc. We will complete and apply for the Grant, prepare and submit any inheritance tax returns. We will sell any assets such as property, shares, and possessions before finalising the Estate, and distributing bequests to beneficiaries. - Grant Only Service.
If you wish to undertake the administration of the Estate yourself but would like some assistance in preparing and submitting the application for the Grant and associated paperwork, our Grant Only Service is designed to assist you.
The loss of a loved one can be a painful and traumatic time and having to deal with their Estate can compound that distress. We are here to help you with advice, assistance and support at this difficult time.
Estimated Costs
Grant Only applications:
– Level 1 (all asset details provided by client) £650 plus VAT;
– Level 2 (corresponding with 3rd parties) £900 plus VAT.
Grant Only with Inheritance Tax Return:
– Level 1 (as above) £1,000 plus VAT;
– Level 2 (as above) £1,500 plus VAT.
Full Administration Service – up to 5% plus VAT with minimum fee of £1,500 plus VAT and disbursements
Full Admin Service plus Lucas Law Executor appointment – TBC but estimated 2-3% plus VAT with minimum fee of £1,500 plus VAT and disbursements
Charity Wills
Free Wills Month
We are excited to be part of @FreeWillsMonth, each March and October. Free Wills Month is your chance to get a free simple Will whilst choosing to support a number of different participating charities by leaving a gift in your Will.
Bookings for the next Free Wills Month will be available from 9am, Friday 1st March 2024.
Call our office in March, quoting ‘Free Wills Month’ for your appointment. Please note that there are a limited number of spaces.
Cancer Research
We are delighted at Lucas Law to partner with Cancer Research UK as part of their Free Will Service. The Free Will Service allows anyone 18+ to easily write or update a simple Will for free.
Most people who use the service pledge a gift to Cancer Research UK. Their support is helping to beat cancer for future generations.
Gifts in Wills fund over a third of their research. Without them they simply would not be able to undertake all the vital research that will one day beat cancer
If you would like to use this service please contact us to make an appointment. Or visit https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/leave-a-legacy-gift-in-your-will/free-will-service for more information.
Alzheimer’s Society
Our staff are trained Dementia Friends and are delighted to support Alzheimer’s Society.
Call us today on 02920 210846 or email lauren@lucaslaw.co.uk to take advantage of our traditional legal service.