Practice Area
Wills & Probate
Protect what you've built. Expert estate planning and probate administration handled with sensitivity and precision.
Our Approach
Planning ahead with care and expertise
None of us want to contemplate our own mortality or incapacity — but putting robust legal arrangements in place is one of the most important things you can do for those you love. It provides certainty, avoids disputes, and can significantly reduce the financial burden on your estate.
Catherine Webb leads our wills and probate team. A member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), she brings exceptional technical knowledge combined with the sensitivity this area of law demands. From straightforward wills to complex multi-jurisdictional estate matters, she provides advice that is thorough, clear, and genuinely tailored to your circumstances.
What We Handle
Wills, estates & inheritance services
Will Drafting
A professionally drafted will ensures your assets pass to the people you choose, minimises family disputes, and can be structured to reduce inheritance tax. We provide clear, plain-English wills that genuinely reflect your wishes.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
An LPA allows someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity. We advise on and prepare both Property & Financial Affairs and Health & Welfare LPAs.
Estate Planning & IHT
Reducing your estate's inheritance tax liability requires careful, forward-thinking planning. We advise on gifting strategies, trusts, and the full range of legitimate IHT mitigation options.
Trust Formation
Trusts can be valuable tools for protecting assets, providing for vulnerable beneficiaries, or structuring wealth across generations. We draft and administer a range of trust structures.
Probate Administration
Administering an estate is a significant responsibility. We handle the legal process — from obtaining the grant of probate to distributing the estate — allowing executors and families to grieve without administrative burden.
Inheritance Disputes
Disputes over estates are increasingly common. We advise disappointed beneficiaries and defend executors in claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and contested probate proceedings.
1 in 3
adults in the UK have no will
Dying intestate rarely reflects your wishes
£5.9bn
paid in IHT in 2023–24
Proper planning can significantly reduce this
2–4 yrs
average contested probate duration
A clear, professionally drafted will avoids disputes
Common Questions
Wills & probate explained
What happens if I die without a will?
You will be treated as having died intestate. Your estate will be distributed according to the strict rules of intestacy — which may not reflect your wishes and can result in partners, stepchildren, or close friends receiving nothing.
Can I update my will after making it?
Yes. You can revoke and replace your will at any time while you have mental capacity. We recommend reviewing your will following major life events — marriage, divorce, birth of children, significant changes in assets.
What is the inheritance tax threshold?
The standard nil-rate band is £325,000. The residence nil-rate band adds a further £175,000 where a main residence passes to direct descendants. Married couples and civil partners can transfer their unused allowances to each other.
How long does probate take?
Simple estates where there is a valid will and no disputes may be resolved in 6–12 months. Complex estates — particularly those involving property, multiple assets, or disputes — can take longer. We'll give you a realistic estimate for your specific circumstances.
Do I need a solicitor to make a will?
Legally, no. But a professionally drafted will, reviewed by a specialist, is far less likely to be challenged, create ambiguity, or fail to achieve your intentions. The cost of proper advice is modest compared with the risks of a defective will.
Start planning your estate today
Don't leave your loved ones without clear legal arrangements in place. Book a confidential consultation with Catherine Webb and our wills & probate team.