Wills and Probate Solicitors in Bognor Regis

The discussion of death and what you wish to happen to your assets is a tough conversation to have, but to ensure your final wishes are followed it’s incredibly important to have measures in place, such as a valid Will. Wills and probate law can be complicated and for this reason seeking legal advice and guidance is crucial.

At SMR Solicitors, we can assist you in all aspects surrounding Wills and probate. We recognise how emotional a discussion like this can be and will always ensure you are provided with complete comfort and sensitivity when discussing these matters with our team.

Our Wills and probate solicitors in Bognor Regis have in-depth knowledge and expertise in all aspects, including dealing with estates, providing tax advice, trusts and more.

Our team of professionals can provide expert Wills and probate advice and guidance on matters including:

Wills and estate planning advice
Drafting your Will
Applying for Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration
Advice on Will execution
Representing an estate executor or administrator
Assistance valuating the deceased assets
Calculating and payment of inheritance tax and other debts
Emptying and selling the deceased’s property and other assets
Preparing detailed estate accounts
Distributing assets to beneficiaries

We are proud to offer our clients proficient Wills and probate advice in Bognor Regis, always aiming to avoid any unnecessary delays. We will take the time to understand exactly the assistance you need and provide carefully tailored legal advice and practical guidance. With us by your side, you can have the reassurance that everything has been done correctly.

We believe in fees that suit everyone. For this reason, we provide flexible funding arrangements to suit your circumstances.

For more information about our services, see Wills and Probate.

Our Wills and probate services

Wills

It’s crucial to have a Will, so your final wishes are followed when you pass away. It means you can provide reassurance of what you want to be done with your assets and who your beneficiaries will be.

Our Wills solicitors in Bognor Regis can advise you on what should be included, help you in selecting your beneficiaries and ensure it is drafted correctly to prevent future disputes.

Find out more about our Wills services in Bognor Regis.

Probate and estate administration

Probate and estate administration can be a difficult and emotional task to carry out, often taking a considerable amount of time.

Our team can assist in carrying out the estate administration or handling the entire process on your behalf.

Find out more about our probate and estate administration services in Bognor Regis.

Inheritance tax planning

It is possible to reduce the amount of inheritance tax that your estate is due to pay to HM Revenue & Customs.

Our solicitors will be able to assist you by providing expert advice in reducing the IHT due.

Find out more about our inheritance tax planning in Bognor Regis.

Trusts

Trusts are useful for many reasons. They can provide asset protection, help to reduce your inheritance tax, and are helpful for when you want your children to inherit, but only once they have reached a specific age.

There are multiple types of trusts available, and our solicitors can deliver advice on the options best for you and your circumstances.

Lasting Powers of Attorney

There may come a time when you are no longer able to make decisions concerning your health or finances, but it is possible to select attorneys in advance who will handle these matters for you. Without one, many problems can arise, meaning handling important aspects can be complicated and difficult to do.

Our solicitors can provide expert advice, guiding you on the benefits and limitations and helping to choose trusted persons.

Find out more about our Power of Attorney services in Bognor Regis.

Court of Protection

If a loved one no longer has the mental capacity to make decisions, you can apply to the Court of Protection to be able to help with finances and health.

Our solicitors can assist with putting provisions in place to help your loved one, such as drafting and filing an application with the Court of Protection for deputyship. In addition, our solicitors can assist with providing advice for deputies.

Speak to our Wills and probate solicitors in Bognor Regis

To discuss your requirements and find out how we can help, please get in touch to speak to one of our Wills and probate lawyers in Bognor Regis.

Wills and probate explained

What is Wills and probate?

A Will is a legally binding document that outlines what you would like to happen to certain aspects of your life, such as the care of your children and the distribution of your assets in the event of your death.

The term ‘probate’ means to handle someone’s estate after they have passed away, including collecting all their assets, selling property, paying inheritance tax, paying debts, and distributing assets to the chosen beneficiaries. However, when referring to the ‘Grant of Probate’, this is a formal document which allows the executor to carry out the handling of the estate.

Do you have to go through probate if you have a Will?

There are certain situations where probate is not needed, particularly where the estate of the deceased person is considered small, more specifically under £10,000. However, this will depend on the bank the assets are held with.

How long does it take for a Will to go through probate?

Each estate will be entirely different, especially depending on the circumstances and whether anyone attempts to contest the Will, so it is not possible to provide an exact estimate. However, they take 6 months to a year on average.

Our Wills and probate solicitors’ fees

We take pride in offering our services at competitive and completely transparent pricing. From the outset, we will ensure you are fully informed of the expected cost of our service, including third party fees where necessary.

For straightforward matters, such as providing inheritance tax advice, we are able to charge for our services on a fixed fee basis. This means our price will be agreed upon with you in advance and will not change unless your requirements do.

For more complex matters, such as a high-net-worth estate, we will agree with you an hourly rate. This will be based on the level of expertise needed.

We are available to discuss the potential cost of our service, so please feel free to contact us to ask any questions you have. For more information, you can also refer to our probate pricing page.