Specialised Wills, Trusts and Probate Service
Welcome to mlplaw, where exceptional service is our commitment.
Entrusting our Wills, Trusts & Probate lawyers ensures that you navigate the complex landscape of estate planning and inheritance matters with utmost expertise and efficiency. We bring a wealth of experience to the table, crafting customised solutions tailored to your unique needs.
Trust mlplaw to be your unwavering ally.
Our expertise in the following areas
Wills
A Will is one of the most important legal documents you will make, and dictates what will happen to your assets after you pass away. Having a professionally drafted Will ensures your wishes are adhered to and can protect your assets for your loved ones by including trusts,effective Inheritance Tax planning, and reduce the likelihood of a successful claim against your estate.
Read more on:
- Disputing a Will
- Contesting the Validity of Wills in the UK
- Rectification of a Will
- How Often should You Update your Will
- The Gentleman: What do I do if I’m left out of a Will?
- How to get started making a Will
- 8 Life Events That Should Prompt You to Update Your Will
- Why a £59 Facebook Will Isn’t the Answer
- Why would I? I’m only 20
How we can help:
- Straightforward Wills
- Wills including trusts of property
- Wills including Business Property Relief Trusts
- Wills including Agricultural Property Relief Trusts
- Wills including Charitable Trusts
- Wills including provision for vulnerable beneficiaries
- Excluding estranged family members from your Will and mitigating the threat of future claims against your estate
- Providing Inheritance Tax advice
Lasting Powers of Attorney
By making Lasting Powers of Attorney, you can choose people you trust to make decisions relating to your property and financial affairs and health and welfare in the event that you lose capacity and are no longer able to make those decisions for yourself.
How we can help:
- Preparing and registering Lasting Powers of Attorney for your property and financial affairs
- Preparing and registering Lasting Powers of Attorney for your health and welfare
- Preparing and registering Lasting Powers of Attorney limited to your business interests
- Acting as a professional attorney
- Advising attorneys on their role and responsibilities
- Creating a Living Will or Advanced Decision
- Acting as your Certificate Provider
Obtaining a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration
Our assistance with probate matters can be tailored specifically to suit your requirements. We can help as little or as much as you need, and provide you with a bespoke cost for our involvement. Seeking legal advice at the early stages of a probate matter is crucial when Inheritance Tax is payable, as there may be steps that can be taken to minimise this liability even after your loved one has passed away.
There are some assets which may require a Grant of Probate (if the deceased died leaving a Will) or Letters of Administration (if the deceased died intestate) to administer. These assets include bank accounts containing over £50,000.00 (although this does vary dependant on the bank), the sale of stocks and shares, and the sale of a property. When you notify a financial provider of the death of your loved one, they will advise you whether they require a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration.
Read more on:
How we can help:
- Corresponding with third parties to notify them of the death
- Obtaining valuations for assets and liabilities within the estate
- Completing Inheritance Tax forms and advising you payment of the Inheritance Tax
- Preparing the probate application and submitting it to the Probate Registry
- Corresponding with the Probate Registry on the application
Contentious Probate Disputes
Our experienced lawyers specialise in resolving probate disputes efficiently and effectively. We understand the sensitive nature of such cases and approach each situation with a combination of legal knowledge, experience and empathy. Choosing our lawyers to help handle your dispute means aligning yourself with a dedicated team that strives to protect you and achieve a fair resolution in the face of challenging legal situations.
How we can help:
- Defending or making a claim against an estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
- Contesting a Will
- Disputes between executors or trustees
Estate Planning for Business Owners
A business owner works hard to grow their business, and it is vital they have control over what happens to their business after they die or no longer have capacity. Our experienced lawyers work with business owners to implement succession plans and protect their assets after their death from Inheritance Tax.
How we can help:
- Providing Inheritance Tax advice
- Preparing Wills including trusts of business property
- Preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney, including Lasting Powers of Attorney limited to your business affairs
- Ensuring your businesses cross-option agreements and partnership agreements contain effective planning
- Preparing trusts for pensions/life assurance
Trusts
Our lawyers have extensive knowledge and experience in estate planning and trusts to enable us to provide you with the peace of mind that your assets have been protected for your loved ones. We understand that each client’s situation is unique and provide you with the confidence that your trust is structured to meet your unique objectives.
How we can help:
- Including trusts in Wills
- Trusts over property
- Discretionary trusts
- Trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries
- Charitable Trusts
- Pension/Life assurance trusts
- Registering trusts over property at the Land Registry
- Removing/appointing assets into trust
- Removing /appointing trustees
- Terminating a trust
Employment Law for Individuals
Positive life balance undoubtedly includes successful managing of the workplace challenges. Our accomplished employment solicitors, endorsed by Legal 500, are dedicated to safeguarding your rights and well-being. Operating with empathy and clarity, we confront issues like discrimination, bullying, and strategic executive exits, implementing a robust and proactive strategy to ensure your success.
We can help with:
- Bringing An Employment Tribunal Claim
- Bullying And Harassment
- Contracts Of Employment
- Disciplinaries And Grievances
- Family Rights
- Post-Termination Restrictions
- Redundancy
- Settlement Agreements And Protected Conversations
- Transfers Of Undertakings (TUPE)
- Whistleblower Protection
- Flexible Working
- Strategic Exits For Executives And Senior Employees
Inheritance Tax Advice
Inheritance Tax is the highest form of tax, and is paid by your estate on your death at 40%. Effective and careful planning can mitigate your Inheritance Tax liability and save your estate millions of pounds in Inheritance Tax.
We will:
- Review your assets, factoring in expected future growth or inheritance and calculate the Inheritance Tax your estate will be likely to owe.
- Provide you with detailed options an outline ways in which you can minimize Inheritance Tax, for example, including trusts in your Will, or making lifetime gifts.
- Review your financial circumstances every 5 years to ensure your planning is kept up to date with your circumstances and any changes in the law.
Court of Protection Application
If your loved one has lost the capacity to make their own decisions without having a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, you can apply to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order to make decisions on their behalf for their health and welfare and property and financial affairs.
How we can help:
- Applying to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order on your behalf
- Acting as a professional Deputy
- Advising you on your role as a Deputy
- Disputing applications for a Deputyship Order
Estate Administration
Our assistance with probate matters can be tailored specifically to suit your requirements. We can help as little or as much as you need, and provide you with a bespoke cost for our involvement. Whether the estate is straightforward, or includes foreign assets, business interests or agricultural assets, we have the expertise and experience to help.
Once you have obtained the Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration, you are then able to collect in the estate assets and distribute the estate to the beneficiaries.
How we can help:
- Corresponding with financial providers to close, sell or transfer the ownership of accounts, shareholdings and investments
- Dealing with international assets
- Settling any liabilities including utilities and estate expenses
- Holding estate funds in our Client Account until the estate is ready to distribute
- Preparing Estate Accounts to detail the assets in the estate, the income and expenditure to ensure thorough records are kept
- Once all assets are collected in and any liabilities have been paid, distributing the estate to the beneficiaries
Agricultural Estate Planning
If you own agricultural assets and businesses, it is vital to obtain legal advice to ensure you have effective succession planning and Inheritance Tax planning in place, to ensure your assets are protected for the next generation. We can provide tailored solutions that ensure a seamless transition of assets and management, which will not only mitigates potential family disputes but also incorporates tax-efficient solutions to protect your assets.
How we can help:
- Providing Inheritance Tax advice
- Preparing Wills including trusts of agricultural and business property
- Preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney, including Lasting Powers of Attorney limited to your business affairs
- Ensuring your businesses cross-option agreements and partnership agreements contain effective planning
- First Registration of land at the Land Registry
- Transfers of land
- Reviewing deeds and titles to establish the ownership of land and property
Attorney/Deputy duties and disputes
If you are an attorney or deputy for your loved one who has lost capacity, you may feel overwhelmed and require some guidance on your duties and responsibilities. Our lawyers can offer their expertise to support you in your role, and in circumstances where issues arise with other attorneys, assist with disputes between attorneys or deputies.
How we can help:
- Advising you on your role as an attorney/deputy
- Disputing applications for Deputyship Orders
- Challenging gifts made by an attorney/deputy
- Challenging the actions made by an attorney/deputy
- Provide advice regarding the Office of the Public Guardian investigations
Trustee Duties and Disputes
Acting as a trustee of a trust can be overwhelming, and you may be unsure of your role and responsibilities. Our lawyers can provide support for trustees, offering invaluable guidance to navigate the complexities of their role and address any disputes that may arise. Whether you’re a first-time trustee or managing a trust with multiple trustees in disagreement, our lawyers offer personalised advice to help you make informed decisions that align with both the trust’s objectives and legal requirements.
How we can help:
- Advising trustees on their role
- Trustee resolutions
- Disputes between trustees
- Registering trusts over property at the Land Registry
- Removing/appointing assets into trust
- Removing /appointing trustees
- Terminating a trust
Divorce and Family Law
In the complexities of divorce, financial matters, and issues related to children, our family law services offer expert guidance, providing personalised advice for fair settlements, amicable dispute resolution, and sensitive child custody concerns, ensuring the best outcome for you and your family with clear, compassionate, and competent support.
How we can help:
- Divorce and associated financial issue
- Children matters
- Other areas include
Why choose us
1. We Exceed Your Expectations
With over 50 5* reviews on Review Solicitors for our Wills, Trusts & Probate lawyers, our track record speaks volumes about the exceptional service and positive outcomes we consistently deliver.
We are also a Legal 500 recommended Wills, Trusts and Probate team.
2. Our Expertise
Our team includes STEP qualified lawyers, recognised as the highest level of qualification for a Wills, Trusts and Probate lawyer.
All of our lawyers are members of Solicitors for the Elderly.
3. Our Approach
We understand that legal issues often come with emotional complexities, and our team is dedicated to navigating these challenges with sensitivity and compassion.
Beyond providing expert legal advice, our lawyers take the time to listen, comprehend, and provide solutions for the unique circumstances of each client.
With us, you’re not just a case; you’re an individual facing a situation that requires not only legal expertise but also a human touch.
Testimonial
“I found Samantha Kennedy to be very helpful, supportive, friendly and well organized. She got back to me straightaway when I asked any questions with her pleasant, straightforward, caring manner. She also put my mind at rest on a number of worrying concerns about my Will.
I think she gave me her best advice and we got the Will sorted really quickly.”
-Karen
“Jane Hunter was both helpful and accommodating. Communication was swift and my questions were always answered. Many thanks.”
-Joanna
“I would have no problem with recommending this solicitor or using them myself again. They provided an excellent service throughout. The solicitor handling my request was Doris Raggatt and I found her straight forward and easy to deal with.”
-Barbara