Estate Planning
No unnecessary complexity. No loose ends. Done properly, once.
Most people put off estate planning until it is too late, or do it cheaply and discover that the document they rely on is flawed. We provide thorough, careful estate planning that holds up when it matters most.
Estate Planning Services
Every matter within estate planning has its own nuances. Our work in this area covers the full range of situations our clients face.
Wills
Professionally drafted wills that accurately reflect your wishes and withstand challenge. We identify the issues that standard online templates miss.
Trusts
Discretionary trusts, lifetime trusts, and testamentary trusts for asset protection, tax planning, and providing for vulnerable beneficiaries.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Property & financial affairs and health & welfare LPAs. You can only grant an LPA while you have capacity. Do not wait until it is in question.
Probate & Estate Administration
Obtaining the grant of probate, collecting assets, settling liabilities, and distributing the estate. Fixed fees available for straightforward estates.
Inheritance Tax Planning
Legitimate use of reliefs, exemptions, and allowances to reduce the IHT exposure on your estate. We do not use schemes that HMRC is likely to challenge.
Contested Wills & Probate
Challenging or defending wills on grounds of lack of capacity, undue influence, or fraud. Acting for claimants and defendants in Inheritance Act claims.
How We Work
We do not believe in vague promises. Every matter follows a clear process from first contact to final resolution and you are kept informed throughout in plain English.
Start with a free callFull Picture First
We review your assets, family situation, and wishes before advising. Estate planning cannot be done on a template. It requires understanding your specific circumstances.
Clear Explanation
We explain the options in plain English. You should understand exactly what your will does, who gets what, and why, before you sign it.
Identifying the Issues
Blended families, overseas assets, business interests, family members with care needs: these all require specific provisions. We ask the right questions.
Documents That Last
We draft carefully and execute correctly. A will that is witnessed incorrectly or drafted ambiguously can be challenged or fail to take effect. Ours are not.
Results in This Area
£1.4M
Will challenged on grounds of lack of testamentary capacity. After expert psychiatric evidence, the challenge was dismissed and the original will upheld.
£680K
Adult child's Inheritance Act claim against an estate that had excluded them resolved by mediated settlement, protecting the remaining beneficiaries.
£340K
Through legitimate use of business property relief and annual gift allowances, IHT liability on a £2.1M estate reduced from £480K to £140K.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
The Person on Your Case
Catherine Hargreaves
Senior Partner
Catherine is recognised as a leading practitioner in private client work, covering estate planning, contested probate, and complex family matters. She advises on estates involving business interests, overseas assets, and multi-generational planning. Her expertise in will disputes means she also knows where the weaknesses in estate planning typically lie, and how to prevent them.
- ◆ LLB, University of Oxford
- ◆ Chambers & Partners 2018–2024
- ◆ STEP Associate Member
Common Questions
Questions we hear regularly. If yours isn't listed here, the first call is free.
What happens if I die without a will?
You die intestate, and your estate is distributed according to the statutory intestacy rules. These rules may not reflect your wishes. Unmarried partners receive nothing under the intestacy rules regardless of the length of the relationship. Cohabitants, step-children, and close friends who are not relatives are all excluded. A will costs a fraction of the disputes that intestacy commonly causes.
Can a will be challenged after I die?
Yes. A will can be challenged on grounds that the testator lacked testamentary capacity, did not know and approve the contents, was subject to undue influence, or that the will was forged. Additionally, certain categories of person (children, former spouses) can bring claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 regardless of what your will says. We help you structure your estate and your will to withstand challenge.
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney and why do I need one?
An LPA allows you to appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. Without one, your family must apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order, a process that takes 6–12 months and costs considerably more than an LPA. You can only make an LPA while you have mental capacity, so waiting until it might be needed is too late.
How much inheritance tax will my estate pay?
The nil-rate band is currently £325,000. Assets above this are taxed at 40%, subject to various reliefs. The residence nil-rate band (£175,000) is available on passing a main residence to direct descendants. Married couples can transfer unused allowances. Agricultural and business property may qualify for 100% relief. We will model your position and identify legitimate planning opportunities.
Don't Leave Your Estate to Chance.
Speak to Catherine Hargreaves about your estate planning. Clear advice, properly documented, so the people you care about are protected.