Wills, Probate & Wealth Management Solicitors | Protect Your Legacy

When you have suffered a bereavement, dealing with the estate of a loved one can be a distressing and daunting task. Whilst it is a mark of respect to have been appointed as an Executor of somebody’s estate, it brings with it a great deal of responsibility and a risk of personal financial liability if problems arise.

At Huttons Law, our approachable team genuinely cares about our clients. We have the expertise to undertake comprehensive estate and tax planning, and we provide all the expert advice, assistance, and reassurance necessary to make the administration process as straightforward as possible.

Future Planning: Wills, Trusts & Wealth Management

Planning ahead ensures your assets are protected and your loved ones are provided for. We work closely with you, and alongside financial advisers where appropriate, to deliver:

• Strategic Wills & Estate Planning: Ensuring your exact wishes are legally binding.

• Trust Creation: Setting up trusts to reduce Inheritance Tax liabilities or to securely provide for minors and disabled beneficiaries.

• Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs): Preparing and registering LPAs to ensure your Health & Welfare and Property & Financial affairs are managed by someone you trust, should you become unable to manage them yourself.

Probate & Estate Administration

We have many years’ experience in the administration of estates, so you can have peace of mind that everything will be dealt with smoothly, efficiently, and always in a sensitive manner.

We can alleviate your burden by handling the entire process. Our summary of work typically includes meeting with you to advise on the will or intestacy provisions, collating asset information, notifying beneficiaries, submitting inheritance tax forms, applying for the grant of probate, and distributing the balance to residuary beneficiaries. While timescales can vary greatly, it is not uncommon for an estate administration to take 10-24 months to reach a conclusion.

Contentious Probate & Estate Disputes

When disputes arise over an estate, the emotional and financial toll can be heavy. Our Civil team, overseen by Tristan Agland, has many years’ experience dealing with contentious estates. We are regularly instructed by beneficiaries and executors to resolve both large and small disputes, including:

• Will challenges on the basis of testamentary capacity or financial influence.

• Challenges brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act.

• Claims of fraud, undue influence, and asset misappropriation.

• Asset recovery and Estate Freezing injunctions.

Transparent Probate Fees

We will always provide you with an estimate of our fees before beginning work on your behalf so you know what to expect. We generally charge on an hourly rate basis.

• Straightforward Administration: For estates with up to four bank accounts, up to five beneficiaries, a residential property, and no inheritance tax to pay, costs are likely in the region of £3,500-£5,500 plus VAT.

• Complex Estates: Where multiple assets exist, a full IHT400 is required, or inheritance tax is payable, fees are likely to be £5,500-£7,800 plus VAT.

• Professional Executor Fees: Where we are appointed by the Will to act as executors, we reserve the right to charge an additional 1% of the value of any property and 1.5% of the gross estate.

Disbursements (third-party costs) also apply, such as the £300 Probate application fee and statutory advertisement fees to protect executors against unexpected claims.

A full breakdown of our fees an be downloaded here or otherwise please do not hesitate to contact us.