Category Archives: Solicitors and Law

Given that wills are relatively straightforward and inexpensive to create it is somewhat surprising that a large number of people in England and Wales die intestate – without having executed a valid final will.  Consequently, it is generally thought that the majority of work carried out by wills and probate solicitors involves administering the estates of people who have died without a will.

You will receive advice from probate solicitors if you wish to apply for the right to deal with the affairs of a deceased person.

Whilst it is not necessary to involve wills and probate solicitors to draft a legally enforceable will, it is useful to be aware of a number of common pitfalls.  Have you accounted for changing relationships in your will such as births, deaths, marriages and the Civil Partnership Act?  Do you know enough about wills and probate to know how to revoke or amend an executed will?  What is legally required in order to properly sign and execute your will?

The advantage of using wills and probate solicitors is that they are experts at helping you make tricky provisions such as how your assets should be re-distributed in the event of your beneficiary’s death.

Making a will is not a legal requirement, but they give you both legal control and peace of mind in determining what happens to your estate – your property and personal possessions after your death.

There are also key financial benefits to making a will.   If you make a will your assets will be shared according to your wishes rather than the law of intestacy.   Crucially, wills and probate solicitors will help you to ensure that you do not pay excessive Inheritance Tax.

Wills and probate solicitors will advise that if you are not married to your partner, a will can ensure that they are provided for after your death.  Contrary to common assumption, there is no automatic inheritance for them in law.

When two people get married, neither expect that they will need to consider divorce solicitors in their future.  The decision to divorce is a painful conclusion – to realise, after evaluating all available options that your union will not have the happy-ever-after ending that you hoped for.  Statistics will tell you that 1 in 3 marriages now end in divorce, leaving many trying to negotiate their way through relationship breakdowns and divorce advice.

If there can be such a thing as a successful divorce, then appointing the right divorce solicitor is crucial.  Finding a firm of divorce solicitors experienced in handling family affairs with sensitivity will mean you feel comfortable working with them.  You are entitled to have an initial face to face meeting with a solicitor before deciding to instruct them, take this opportunity to ask as many questions as you can.

If the average cost of a traditional wedding in the UK is increasing – £18,000 in 2010 – the bad news is that the business of divorce is also expensive.  It is important to find divorce solicitors with a reputation for providing high-quality, cost-effective divorce advice.

Good divorce solicitors will act in your best interest, which means helping you to find the quickest and cheapest solution and avoiding family courts if it is possible to do so. Recommendations may come from family and friends.  Depending on your circumstances, you could qualify for legal aid services.

By its nature separation and divorce are highly personal and can be traumatic for all involved.  Divorce support groups may not be everyone’s cup of tea.  Naturally, reaching out for personal support from a stranger about our inner most private lives comes easier to some people than others.  While divorce solicitors will deal with the intricate legalities involved, divorce support groups help people to cope with the emotional aspect of divorce.  They are also a valuable resource for those indirectly affected, such as the offspring of couples who are in the process of a divorce.