Services
Estate Planning
Estate planning involves maximizing your wealth to then passing it on efficiently in a way that achieves your aims, which would normally include the provision of financial security for yourself and your family and mitigating tax. The scope of options available to you are primarily dependant on your circumstances including the value and type of assets included in your estate, your civil status and your family unit.
Probate and Estate Administration
This process is concerned with applying for a Grant of Probate to enable to administer the deceased's estate, pay debts and expenses and distribute the assets to the beneficiaries. Inheritance tax, if due, is payable prior to obtaining the Grant.
Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare
You may encounter situations when planning and dealing with your personal welfare and health matters will be difficult if you are unable to make decisions due to lack of mental capacity. People of any age can lose their mental capacity -temporarily or permanently- because of an accident or illness for instance, and by making a Lasting Power of Attorney you ensure that the person you choose (your attorney) will be helping you if and when required. Having appointed an attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney will also prevent potential family disputes as to whom should deal with your health affairs and what decisions shall be made if you lack mental capacity.
Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs
You may encounter situations when planning and dealing with your financial affairs will be difficult if you are unable to make decisions due to loss of mental capacity. People of any age can lose their mental capacity -temporarily or permanently- because of an accident or illness for instance, and by making a Lasting Power of Attorney you ensure that the person you choose (your attorney) will be helping you if and when required. Having appointed an attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney will also prevent potential family disputes as to whom should deal with your financial affairs and property and what decisions shall be made if you lack mental capacity.
Business Lasting Power of Attorney
A Business Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document to appoint a business attorney if you are you a sole trader, in a business partnership or a company director.
Deputyship/Court of Protection
A Deputyship application to the Court of Protection is normally required by a family member of someone who has lost mental capacity and had not appointed an attorney to deal with their affairs in the event of losing mental capacity, for instance in a Lasting Power of Attorney. I can provide advice, assistance and support to the proposed deputy to make this application.
Trusts
Trusts are legal arrangements you can be set up during your lifetime – sometimes referred to as Settlements- or in your Will – normally called Will Trusts. Instead of making outright gifts a settlor (during their lifetime) or testator (trust is created in their Will and is constituted on the testator's death) would create a trust to transfer assets to their trustees who will manage the trust property for the beneficiaries of the trust.
