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Wills and Probate Solicitors in Kent

At Martin Tolhurst Solicitors we have a large and experienced wills and probate team to help you with any of your lifetime planning and estate administration issues.

Many people worry about making a will. Making a will is exceptionally important, although the latest research shows that more than half the UK adult population does not have one. By having a will, you can give your personal instructions as to what should happen to your estate in the event of your death. This is especially vital for those with children, other dependants or those who are co-habiting (living together whilst unmarried). If you die without leaving a will, your estate will be dealt with under the fixed, rigid rules of intestacy.

Dealing with an estate can be a daunting task and it usually comes at an emotional time. We can assist and guide you with all the paperwork and obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. We can relieve you of the burden of dealing with banks, building societies, pension companies and Government bodies. We seek to sort matters out for you in an efficient and friendly way.

Our wills and probate lawyers are experienced and understand the pressures of each situation. They will seek to guide and assist you in a caring, positive manner so that you can be assured that your matter is being dealt with professionally. We can provide fixed fee estimates on all cases so that you can be confident that you have a competitive fee and you can budget with certainty.  

Get in touch with our wills and probate solicitors in Kent today. We have four offices in  Longfield , Ashford , Gillingham and Sittingbourne . Just give us a call at your local branch for 15 minutes of free legal advice and to set up an initial consultation.

Our wills and probate expertise

We have a wide range of expertise covering all lifetime planning and estate administration matters, including:

• Making a Will

Inheritance Tax planning

• Probate and estate administration :
• Obtaining Grant of Probate where there is a will
• Obtaining Letters of Representation where there is no will

Lasting Powers of Attorney

• Challenging a Will and Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims

Each and every member of our team is an expert in their field and we are committed to continuing our professional development to ensure we can consistently provide the highest quality of legal services to our clients. 

One of our Partners, Barbara Stewart , is a member of the Private Client Section of the Law Society .

How much will it cost?

Our understanding is that price transparency from start to finish is what people want from their solicitors. At Martin Tolhurst Solicitors we start by offering you two simple things to get the process started.

Free Initial phone consultation – a no obligation 15 minute general call to go over your enquiry, with one of our expert lawyers.

• 01634 728111

£99 Fixed-Fee First Advice – a 45 minute, face-to-face specific advice session with one of our expert Wills & Probate lawyers who specialise in the area relevant to your legal matter.

We understand that the cost of obtaining legal advice can appear off putting. We are able to offer creative arrangements for fee payment and in all cases are able to provide cost effective advice to each and every client giving you a cost estimate which will be reviewed at every stage of your case.

Our wills and probate services

Making a will.

Our skilled wills solicitors in Kent have substantial expertise preparing wills and codicils (additions to wills), from simple documents leaving a whole estate to a spouse or partner, to complex documents involving things like overseas assets or multiple beneficiaries.

Most people put off making a will, at least until they are older. However, you should always consider making a will if you own assets, have children and/or a partner (particularly if you are unmarried as they will otherwise be unable to inherit).

You can also use your will to set out important wishes such as who will look after your minor children, who will deal with your estate on your behalf (your executors), and your funeral wishes.

We will ensure your will:

• Is drafted meticulously to accurately reflect your wishes
• Complies fully with legal requirements, minimising any risk of challenge
• Reduces your liability for Inheritance Tax wherever possible

When planning for end of life, one of your biggest concerns is likely to be inheritance tax. Once a tax that only caught the very wealthy, rising property prices and increasing pension pots mean more and more people are now affected.

We can help you minimise your liability for inheritance tax by examining how your estate is structured and providing advice on the reliefs and exemptions you can take advantage of, including:

• Leaving your estate to your spouse or partner in your will
• Leaving the family home to a dependant in your will
• Lifetime gifting
• Leaving gifts to charity
• Agricultural Property Relief
• Business Relief

Probate and estate administration

When a loved one dies, someone must take on the responsibility of sorting out their estate. This can be a daunting task when you are grieving but unfortunately, it must be done. Our skilled and sensitive probate solicitors are experienced in supporting clients through this difficult time. We will take the weight off your shoulders as much as possible by handling all aspects of the process on your behalf, including:

• Obtaining Grant of Representation (legal permission to administer an estate):
• Grant of Probate where there is a will
• Letters of Administration where there is no will
• Financial matters, including contacting the deceased’s banks, building societies, and utility companies
• Calculating and dealing with inheritance tax
• Paying off debts
• Distributing inheritance to the beneficiaries, either as set out under the will or according to the rules of intestacy

Trusts are legal devices for protecting and preserving money and property during your lifetime or after you die. It is very important to draft the trust document precisely to ensure it is legally binding and it reflects your wishes.

Whatever your objective – whether you want to minimise inheritance tax, set aside inheritance for your minor children until they turn 18, or preserve your home or business – we can provide advice on whether making a trust is right for you and handle its set up on your behalf. We can also advise on the tax implications of your trust and help trustees with their legal duties and responsibilities under the trust.

When planning for the future, it is important to think about what might happen if you become unable to make your own decisions about things like your health and financial affairs.

Old age, illnesses such as dementia, and brain injuries caused by accidents or conditions such as stroke cause many people to lose their mental capacity every year. Although we want to think it won’t happen to us, unfortunately there is always a chance.

Our solicitors can help you create a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to appoint a trusted loved one to help you make decisions or make decisions on your behalf in the event you lose the ability to sometime in the future. Our expertise includes:

• Property and Financial Affairs LPA
• Health and Welfare LPA

Challenging a will

Our contentious probate solicitors can provide advice and sensitive guidance in all contested will and inheritance matters. The death of a loved one is an emotionally fraught time and it is easy for disputes over their final wishes and inheritance to arise. Our goal is to help you diffuse conflict as far as possible, resolving disputes amicably while helping you achieve an outcome which is beneficial to you. Our expertise includes:

• Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
• Challenges to the validity of a will
• Disputes between executors
• Disputes between executors and beneficiaries

Get in touch today

Take the next step and call our new enquiry team today to book your initial consultation on 01474 546013  or if it’s easier email us at [email protected]. We have five convenient locations across Kent in G illingham , Longfield , Ashford  and Sittingbourne , so get in touch today to discuss your matter and find out how we can help you move forward.

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Rochester Office call 01634 400161 • Gillingham Office call 01634 575464

Wills & probate, wills & probate, our wills and probate team has accumulated vast experience in drafting wills, probate and estate administration..

The benefits of a Will ensure that your assets go to the people you want to inherit. If you do not have a Will, your assets are distributed in accordance with legal provisions. That may mean that your assets are not distributed as you would have wished.

Making a Will is particularly important when you marry, divorce, have children, and or when you buy a house.

We know that death is often an upsetting time. We can deal with all practical issues from registration of death, carrying out the deceased’s wishes, and ensuring that appropriate sums of Inheritance Tax are paid.

We are also well placed to advise on the specific affairs of the elderly. We recognise the special requirements of older clients, their families, and carers. We aim to give you peace of mind by providing practical advice on every day issues, as well as planning ahead for the future.

The firm is one of the largest practices in the Medway Towns and North Kent, servicing clients across Kent, the South East and London.

We can help you with:

• Drafting Wills
• Discretionary Will Trusts
• Advice for the elderly
• Preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Applications to the Probate Registry
• Preparing Deeds of Variation
• Administration of Estates
• Advice to personal representatives
• Will storage
• Contested Probate
• Court of Protection

Please contact us for a free initial discussion. We will discuss your options tailored to your individual needs.

Please see our pricing guide here .

For expert advice please call:

Sarbjit Kaur Sulh  on 01634 575464 or email her at:  [email protected]

Sarah Hopper on 01634 400161 or email her at: [email protected]

Bassets Solicitors – Wills & Probate for Medway, Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, Gravesend, Dartford, Sittingbourne and Maidstone

01622 685719

Call us on 01622 685719

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Wills & Probate

Helping you and your loved ones

Established in 1976, Burroughs Solicitors is a law firm, offering a wide range of law services at affordable prices.

Wills & Probate Solicitors

Whether you’re thinking of writing a will or you require professional probate services to legally act on the will of a loved one, the wills and probate solicitors at Burroughs Solicitors are here to provide their support and expertise.

By writing a will under the guidance of an experienced solicitor , you can ensure that your family and your loved ones are provided for according to your exact wishes. Not only can we provide dedicated legal advice to ensure all your assets and finances are accounted for, but we can also help you to avoid penalising inheritance tax.

Probate Solicitors in Kent, Maidstone, and Gillingham

If you require probate administration services, we ensure an efficient and effective service. We understand that making arrangements regarding the assets and finances of a loved one who has recently passed is a difficult task. Our probate solicitors aim to make this process as straightforward as possible so your loved one’s will can be legally acted upon.

At Burroughs Solicitors , we offer fixed fees for will drafting, from £170 plus VAT for a single will and from £300 plus VAT for a joint will . If your circumstances require inheritance tax planning, we will ask you to attend a consultation. We can then accurately estimate the cost for you. We can do so during a fixed-fee interview, the charge for which will be waived if we are subsequently instructed in the preparation of your will.

As professional wills, probate and estate lawyers, we’ve operated across Maidstone, Gillingham and the Medway Towns of Kent for over 40 years. To enquire about our probate or will writing services, simply contact us today.

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For more information or assistance Call us on 01622 685719

Will Writing Service in Medway, Kent

Protecting what matters most to you. Choosing to draw up a will in Medway is an extremely responsible action.

Your will means that courts don’t have to make decisions about who your savings, property and personal possessions are distributed to, as it is all clearly stated in the legal document.

After getting a will drawn up, you will feel a weight off your shoulders. You can then know that you have created a plan for a time that can be very emotional.

Don’t leave it too late! Make plans so that you know that your wishes will be understood and carried out.

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What are the reasons for needing a will?

If you were to pass without a will it could cause financial difficulties, the responsibility for legal fees and many other pressures that fall to your loved ones at the time of mourning. Family worry and anxiety can be reduced by making it clear what should happen to your assets through the will. What can happen if I don’t make a will? It’s not easy to think about the future and what could happen without a will. Property, cash, investments and other assets may be frozen or the state may claim some or a portion of them, and if a partner remarries then your children may not get the inheritance that you want them to have. It is a commonly held belief that the spouse or partner is the automatic inheritor of an estate when the deceased has no will. The actual inheritance process can be fraught with difficulties. There are often disputes over an estate between relatives.

Hi, l found Brighton Wills excellent, in fact beyond expectations. Jane Amos was very understanding and concise with requirements, dealing quickly with the matter and at a reasonable price, thanks Mike

My husband and i found the whole will writing process very professionally handled . The advice we received was informative and useful. Jane was extremely helpful and dealt with all our requests expertly.

u A very prompt and efficient service, Jane was with my wife and I for less than one hour In which time she explained very clearly the areas we needed to consider when writing our wills Thank you Jane

Mark and Jane offer such an easy and simple Will Writing service. Hassle free and wonderful to work with, highly recommended.

Very helpful, efficient, friendly and prompt. Made the experience easy to understand. Would highly recommend Brighton Wills to everyone.

Extremely happy with the service from Brighton Wills.

Very professional and made the whole process stress free.

Would highly reccomend!

Thank you, Jane and Mark!

My family and I dealt with the company and the service provided was a cut above the rest. They are both so helpful, friendly, professional and efficient. Would recommend their services to everybody!

My wife and I cannot speak highly enough of Jane and Mark.

Highly capable, professional and make everything bespoke and fully contextualised to one’s needs and the needs of one’s family.

Easy to deal with, trustworthy and professional. Just great people! All my affairs are in order and it’s a big weight off my mind. I’d highly recommend Brighton Wills.

Why choose Brighton Wills?

We strive at all times to be open and honest and ‘real’, keeping your best interests at the centre of all we do. Our professional standards are always exemplary, and we work to the high levels required by the body that administers the code of practice for will writing, The Society of Will Writers. Our professional, yet non-stuffy approach is a testament to the hundreds of satisfied clients who have chosen Brighton Wills to write over 1500 wills and Lasting Power of Attorney documents since 2014. And we are more than happy to provide you with suitable references if you want to see them, having £2 million of professional indemnity insurance for your peace of mind.

Will writing doesn’t have to be an expensive, stuffy experience you put off until it’s too late! Call us Today on 01273 385833 to discuss your options.

About Brighton Wills in Medway

Our staff try to make the will-writing in Medway experience an interesting one As a family-owned business we take pride in being friendly and open and providing you with expert advice and a professional service. Since our formation in 2014 we have worked with satisfied customers in Medway, delivering estate planning and will-writing services in Medway through experienced professionals. Our full range of will writing services in Medway Whichever stage of life you have reached now is a good time to write a will. Writing a will puts you in control and removes the doubt, whether you are currently buying a property, have grown a large asset base, or just want to feel secure knowing that your assets will be distributed in the way that you want.

In everything we do we always have your best interests at heart, and focus on your requirements, maintaining high standards of work representative of our membership of The Society of Will Writers who are responsible for the code of practice for the industry. Our superb reputation has been built through the writing of over 1500 wills, all legally compliant, with a transparent, friendly, personal approach If you need to organise Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) then this falls within the remit of our services.

If you were unable to make decisions due to an accident or illness causing a loss of mental capacity then the person you have trusted with power of attorney will be able to look after your financial, welfare and health needs, and to make decisions on your behalf. It is always sensible to plan for the future, and that means having a will – whether you own a property, are buying a property, want to take a closer look at your estate, or just want to understand how the future will be should you pass away. Our will-writing professionals in Medway ensure that your exact requirements are met in the will that they produce.

Our Services

Will Writing

Lasting Powers of Attorney

Protective Property Trusts

Prepaid Funeral Plans

Family Trusts

Probate Forms

What happens if i don't have a will in medway.

With emotions high to begin with, disputes can cause a massive amount of emotional distress at such a difficult time, Without a will, your assets will be divided according to the law, which may not meet your wishes. If you’re married with children, your spouse may not automatically inherit everything you own. Rather, your state may be apportioned between your children and your spouse. If you aren’t married, then your partner may not be an automatic beneficiary in the eyes of the law. Writing a will in Medway can protect your assets from just about any eventuality.

Will writing doesn’t have to be an expensive, stuffy experience you put off until it’s too late!

Estate Planning Services in Medway

As well as offering will writing, Brighton Wills also offer a comprehensive range of services related to estate planning. From family trusts and probate forms to prepaid funerals, we offer a range of services that make estate planning easier, and that takes the strain of your family during the emotional time after passing.

We can make legal provisions for Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA). If an accident or illness diminishes your capacity to make good judgements then you will need a trusted person to make decisions for you, and it’s easier if you have LPA in place already.

Keeping your will safe Having your will stored safely and it being easily to locate could be the difference between officially dying “intestate”, and seeming to not have a valid will in place, and immediately having a valid, legally binding will available. Your executors need your will to be undamaged, and within easy access when the time comes, so you need to store it safely and somewhere where other people won’t be able to access it before the required time. Your executors can only guarantee that your money, property and assets go to who you want to have them if your will is a) found and b) undamaged. We will talk to you and find out about your storage situation and advise whether you should use a third-party solicitor, your own will storage service or perhaps lodge your will with the probate service.

More Information

• 01 What is Probate? Read more
• 02 How Does Probate Work? Read more
• 03 What is Intestacy? Read more
• 04 What is an Inheritor?  Read more
• 05 What Is an Inheritance? Read more
• 06 What is an Executor? Read more
• 07 What is a Trust? Read more
• 08 What is a Testator? Read more
• 09 What is a Last Will and Testament? Read more
• 10 What is a Bequest? Read more
• 11 What is a Beneficiary? Read more
• 12 Who Can Inherit if There is No Will? Read more

About the Society of Will Writers

The Society of Will Writers was established in 1994 and has, over the years, grown to become the biggest and arguably the best self-regulatory body for estate planners and will writing. Alongside offering ongoing training, The Society of Will Writers regulates the industry through stringently vetting potential members of the Society against tight criteria, including proficiency standards.

About IPW – Institute of Professional Will Writers

The public is protected from unscrupulous and unqualified will writers by official bodies including The Institute of Professional Will Writers, who are the recognised body for both protecting and promoting the will writing sector.

Get in touch with us if you want to find out more about how we can help you with your requirements here at Brighton Wills. Email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you quickly, or give us a call on 01273 385833 to speak to someone right away. The first step is a free consultation with no obligations, and we will be more than happy to book you your appointment today.

Information about Medway

Other areas we cover.

• Will Writing Service in Marshside, Kent
• Will Writing Service in Martin-Mill, Kent
• Will Writing Service in Martin, Kent
• Will Writing Service in Matfield, Kent
• Will Writing Service in Maxton, Kent
• Will Writing Service in Meopham, Kent
• Will Writing Service in Mereworth, Kent
• Will Writing Service in Mersham, Kent
• Will Writing Service in Milebush, Kent
• Will Writing Service in Milstead, Kent

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FREE Will Consultations throughout Kent

Our friendly and approachable Will writing consultants will provide a tailor made service, to ensure your wishes and provisions are carried out, so your loved ones are cared for after you've gone. We offer a no obligation visit in the comfort of your home, at a time that suits you best.

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Our will writing company.

We provide our clients with a dedicated practitioner who will listen to each individual client’s needs and requirements and provide sound advice to ensure protecting your loved ones’ inheritance is as stress free and simple as possible. We pride ourselves on delivering value by taking the time to engage our clients on an interpersonal level in order to establish their sincere wishes for their estate as it relates to their loved ones. One of our main skills is the ability to bridge the gap for clients between technical solutions and practical application in a manner that the client can understand and feels comfortable with.

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Other services available.

• Lasting Powers of Attorney (Health & Welfare)
• Lasting Powers of Attorney (Property & Affairs)
• Home Owners Protection Plan
• Home & Inheritance Protection Plan
• Estate Preservation Plan
• Severance of Joint Tenancy
• Transfer of title
• Life Interest in Property
• Discretionary Trusts
• Living Wills (Advance directives)
• Family Provision
• Parental Responsibility
• Bespoke Home Protection Plans
• Off the Shelf Home Protection Plans
• Disabled Trusts
• Joint Ownership Trusts
• Property Protection Trusts
• Gifts of Business Shares and/or Interest
• Obtaining Grant Of Probate

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Making a Will

7 out of 10 people in the UK population do not have a current Will that accurately reflects of their financial circumstances and wishes for the future of their estate. If you are one of them, you run the risk of having your choices ignored and leaving your loved ones with a potentially difficult situation to resolve when you pass away.

Making a Will provides certainty, reduces worry and gives you the peace of mind of knowing exactly how your money, property and possessions will be dealt with after your death.

A Will can also make things much easier on your loved ones, allowing them to deal with your estate faster and avoiding the possibility of your intended beneficiaries missing out on their inheritance.

Making a Will can also help to minimise your estate’s liability for Inheritance Tax, ensuring the maximum possible value passes to your loved ones.

We have a team of experienced Wills and probate lawyers who work from all our offices to provide a friendly, convenient Will writing service. We can help to make sure your wishes are reflected in your Will and that any changes in the future are accurately reflected with proper amendments. That way, you can have complete peace of mind that your estate and your loved ones will be taken care of when the time comes.

To ask a question or book an appointment with our Will writing team, please use our simple contact form or get in touch with your local Atkins Hope office in Blackheath ,  Croydon , Medway  or  Guildford .

Our Will writing services

We can help you create a Will that takes care of every possible issue involved in planning for the future of your estate and loved ones.

Our Will writing expertise includes:

• Gifts to members of your family
• Issues in Wills such as Guardianship, adoption and divorce
• Inheritance Tax Planning
• Obtaining Grants of Probate
• Preparation of Wills, Trusts and Deeds
• Reviewing and amending Wills
• Winding up and distributing Estates
• Post death variations and disclaimers

If you have any specific issues you are concerned about, please don’t hesitate to get in touch .

10 reasons to make a Will

1. choose who to leave your money and property to.

In England and Wales, you are free to leave your money and property to whomever you wish. This is called testamentary freedom.

However, the only way you can exercise your freedom and ensure your wishes are respected is by making a valid Will. If you do not make a Will, your assets will be distributed according to the Rules of Intestacy which only allow a very narrow group of people to inherit, such as a spouse or civil partner and your children.

2. Provide for unmarried partners and step children

Under the Rules of Intestacy, only spouses, civil partners, children (both biological and adopted) and other close relatives may inherit. Unmarried partners and step children cannot inherit under the Rules of Intestacy, no matter how long you have lived together.

Despite the common belief, there is no such thing as common law marriage in England and Wales. So, even if you have lived with a partner for years or even decades, they are not legally considered your spouse and cannot automatically inherit your estate after you die.

The only way unmarried partners and step children can inherit is if you leave a valid Will naming them as beneficiaries.

3. Reflect life changes

You can update your Will throughout your life to reflect changes in your personal circumstances. You should consider reviewing and updating your Will when/if you:

• Buy property – especially if you jointly buy with someone else
• Get married or enter into a civil partnership
• Get a divorce or civil partnership dissolution
• Have children
• Start a business
• Come into wealth – e.g. you receive an inheritance, sell a business or cash in on an investment
• Are diagnosed with an illness
• A loved one has an accident or is diagnosed with an illness that leaves them vulnerable

4. Appoint people you trust to carry out your wishes

You can use your Will to appoint people to administer your estate – these people are called executors. Estate administration involves getting the estate valued, calculating and paying Inheritance Tax, paying off your debts, and distributing inheritance to the beneficiaries.

Estate administration is a vital job and it is important that the people who take on the task are capable. Any issues with the administration could lead to delays in your beneficiaries receiving their inheritance and could even result in expensive court litigation if the estate is managed poorly. Therefore, you should use your Will to appoint people you love and trust to do the job well.

If you do not leave a Will or do not appoint executors in your Will, your next of kin will need to apply to become administrators. Their job will essentially be the same as an executor except you have no control over who takes on the role and it is likely the probate process will take longer.

5. Avoid family disputes

Where money and property is involved, family disputes can quickly get out of hand. If you do not leave a Will expressly setting out how you want your assets to be divided after you die, you could risk arguments arising amongst your loved ones about how your estate should be distributed.

Contentious probate disputes where the deceased did not leave a Will can be extremely expensive with legal fees running into the thousands. It is also common for relationships to be irreparably damaged along the way.

If you leave a Will and keep it up to date, there is less scope for your family to challenge your wishes because they are set out in a clear, legally binding document for all to see.

6. Minimise Inheritance Tax

With property prices continuing to rise, more and more people are becoming liable for Inheritance Tax. Therefore it is important to conduct your estate planning with tax efficiency in mind.

Inheritance Tax could claim 40% of your estate after your tax free threshold (currently £325,000). However, there are a number of reliefs and exemptions we can help you access and take advantage of.

7. Appoint guardians for your children

Although it is unpleasant to think about, if you have children under 18 years old, you should consider appointing guardians under your Will in case you die while they are still young.

Your appointed guardians will be people you trust to take over your children’s care and upbringing. If you do not name guardians under your Will, a family judge will have to step in to make their own appointment – one you may not agree with.

8. Set up trusts

A trust is a legal instrument whereby you transfer the legal ownership of money and property to someone (a trustee) to hold for the benefit of someone else (a beneficiary).

Trusts can help you protect your money and property and make your estate more tax efficient. Some of the many ways a trust could benefit you include:

• Put aside money for children until they turn a certain age
• Control how your money and property is used
• Place conditions on loved ones’ inheritance
• Provide a regular income for beneficiaries
• Leave money safely to vulnerable loved ones
• Provide for a class of unknown beneficiaries, such as unborn grandchildren
• Bypass the probate process, allowing beneficiaries to get their inheritance faster
• Prevent assets from becoming liable for Inheritance Tax

For more information, please visit our Trusts and Lifetime Planning page.

9. Protect the family home

As people live longer, it is becoming more common for people to have to sell their family home to pay for care fees. If you co-own your home with a partner, you can use your Will to protect your share so that it can be handed down to your children or other family members after you both pass away. It works like this:

• If you move into residential care, the local authority cannot ask you to sell your home to pay for care fees while your partner still lives there
• If you die first, your share of the property will pass to your partner via a trust
• If your partner then needs to move into residential care, only their share of the property can be used to pay for care fees because your share is protected by trust
• Your share of the property can then be handed down to your loved ones after your partner passes away

10. Leave money to charity

The Rules of Intestacy do not allow charitable donations, even if you regularly supported a charity during your lifetime. Only by making a Will can you leave a legacy to charity.

Common questions about making a Will

Do you need a lawyer to make a will.

While you can create a Will yourself, it is strongly recommended to use a lawyer specialising in Wills writing when making a Will.

Advantages a lawyer can offer for writing a Will include:

• Ensuring the Will is created in the right way to be legally binding
• Advising you of all available options to protect your assets and minimise your estate’s inheritance tax liability
• Providing the reassurance of having a trained, licensed professional handling your Will who has professional indemnity insurance in case any errors are made

How do you make a Will legally binding?

For a Will to be considered valid and legally binding, you must:

• Be 18 or over
• Make the Will voluntarily
• Be of sound mind (e.g. not be suffering from dementia)
• Make the Will in writing
• Sign the Will in the presence of two witnesses (who must both be over 18)
• Have the two witnesses sign the Will in your presence
• Not leave anything in the Will to the witnesses or their spouses/civil partners

If you later need to amend your Will, the same requirements will apply for the amended Will to be considered valid.

While it is not a strict requirement, it is usually a good idea to date your Will and any amendments. This helps to ensure there is never any confusion over which is the most up-to-date version of your Will.

What happens if you don’t have a Will when you die?

If you die without leaving a Will, your estate will be divided according to the standards rules of intestacy. This means only close relatives can inherit and exactly who your estate goes to will depend on what living relatives you have and the size of your estate.

The intestacy rules favour spouses and civil partners, then any children you have, followed by other relatives, such as parents, siblings and grandparents.

This can often present an issue where people have remarried, as children from a previous relationship can lose out in favour of their parent’s new spouse – something which may not have been the deceased’s intention.

Book an appointment with our Will writing solicitors today

To arrange an appointment to make a Will, or to find out more about our Will writing service, please use our simple contact form or get in touch with your local Atkins Hope office in  Blackheath ,  Croydon , Medway  or  Guildford .

Heritage Will Writers

Welcome to Heritage Will Writers

Because You Never Know What's Around The Corner

Heritage Will Writers are Will Writing and Estate Planning experts who offer services throughout Kent, Surrey, Sussex and South East London with home visits and fixed fees available.

Writing your Will is probably the most important document needed and an essential part of people's Financial Planning, BUT it is also one of those jobs "put off" and left "for another day" to deal with.

We are specialists in writing Wills and offer a highly efficient  service, catering for a wide range of situations and meeting the needs of all family circumstances.

If you have been meaning to write a Will but never quite got round to it, this is your chance to act NOW! There is no time like the present, and both you and your family will benefit from that extra sense of security.

You never know exactly "what's around the corner", but at least by having an up-to-date Will, this will ensure that your hard earned assets will pass to the people of your choice and without unnecessary delay.  This should offer a comforting peace of mind in the knowledge that you have done all that is required to protect your loved ones.

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Avoiding delays in probate.

If a Grant of Probate is needed after a death, you must obtain this before you can start collecting in and selling the estate assets. For example, you will not be able to sell a property until you have the grant. We take a look at how to avoid delays in securing probate. It can […]

What is the role of the Court of Protection?

The Court of Protection (CoP) fulfils a vital role in looking after individuals who no longer have the ability to manage their own affairs. This includes in respect of both welfare matters and finances. The court also authorises others to act as deputies for those who need assistance. If you have a relative who cannot make their own decisions any more and they do not […]

Cohabitee Inheritance Act claims

If you have been living with someone but were not married to them, you could find yourself in a difficult situation if they die without leaving a Will. We look at how cohabitees are protected and what you might be able to claim from your partner’s estate. For couples who live together but who are neither married […]

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Will writing & will storage, estate planning, trusts & assets protection, lasting power of attorney (lpa), probate & estate administration, you've come to the right place.

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Casey & Associates is a dynamic Estate Planning company operating in a highly specialised industry. Our substantial client-base makes us one of the leading independent practitioners in the South-East of England.

We are members of the Society of Will Writers: the largest regulatory body in the country for our industry. Being part of such a reputable organisation gives us the best platform possible from which to provide the excellent level of service that we do.

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The following is intended to provoke thought and discussion:

Mr A and Mrs A are in their forties and married. They have three children under 18. Mr A has a child (now aged 25) from a previous relationship. Mr & Mrs A die in a car accident. They never made Wills. The father of Mr A is alive, fit and healthy. The mother of Mrs A is alive but suffers from early signs of dementia. Where will their estate go? Who will look after the three children who are under 18?

Mr A and Miss B are partners. They are not married. They own their house jointly and both contribute to the mortgage. They have two children. Mr A and Miss B wish to “…leave everything to each other and then to the children in equal shares.” Their assets are their house valued at £500k and a bank account in the name of Miss B of £150k which she inherited two years ago. This couple is at risk of paying £130k of Inheritance Tax completely unnecessarily. What planning needs to be done to mitigate this risk?

Mr A and Mrs A (ages 68 and 70) currently have Wills which leave “…everything to each other.” And then, subject to a survivorship clause of 28 days, leave everything to each of their three children in equal shares. Mr A and Mrs A own their house jointly and it is valued at £300k. Over the years Mr A and Mrs A have kept their finances separate. Mr A has built up assets in his own name of £330k and Mrs A has built up assets in her own name of £20k. Tragically Mr & Mrs A both die in a road traffic collision. Why does the survivorship clause in the Wills disadvantage the children by £122k?

"We were slightly daunted by what was required. However, this was totally unnecessary, as C&A took the time to come and visit us at home, and ensuring we understood every aspect. It was massively reassuring to know that we were putting the right protection in place for the future. We've also had separate dealings within the family for an LPA arrangement, and the service was equally fantastic. Hugh, Hugo and the rest of the team are true experts, and by specialising in Wills and LPAs are able to offer cost-effective rates as well." Mr & Mr Hardcastle, Tunbridge Wells, 5th September 2019

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Blended Families – and Estate Planning

Estate Planning for Blended Families: A Guide by Just Wills and Legal Services The traditional nuclear family structure is increasingly being supplemented by more complex and inclusive configurations, known as blended families. These families come into existence when adults with children from previous relationships enter new unions, creating a mosaic of step-siblings, half-siblings, and multiple parental figures. Understanding Blended Families in Estate Planning Estate planning for blended families involves navigating the delicate balance between supporting a current spouse and ensuring children from previous relationships are not inadvertently disinherited. The stakes are high, as

Sideways Disinheritance – Explained

Steering Clear of Sideways Disinheritance: Ensuring Your Legacy Reaches the Right Hands The concept of 'sideways disinheritance' is increasingly becoming a crucial consideration in estate planning. Imagine thinking that your loved ones will inherit and then poor planning means that unexpectedly, your wishes are derailed and your assets aren’t distributed upon your passing to loved ones at all

Understanding the Legal Implications: Murderers Cannot Benefit from Their Crimes

We wrote an article recently about Forfeiture and how it essentially means that those that commit crime, cannot benefit as a result for example if someone were to murder their parents to benefit from their Will, this can’t happen. In a recent case that shook the UK, James Andrews, 52, admitted to the manslaughter of his parents, Mary and Bryan Andrews, at their home in Terrey Road. The tragedy unfolded on November 27th 2022, with the couple, aged 76 and 79, found fatally stabbed. Andrews, experiencing a psychotic episode, inflicted multiple

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Medway wills and probate, we help you deal with your death and the death of someone close to you in medway. we can also help if you have a dispute over property or money left by someone who has died. you can contact us online, over the phone or in person. we aim to keep our fees as low as possible, and our staff will always try to help you find the best outcome for your particular situation. call ‭07584 283 821, medway wills and probate.

Wills Medway, estates and trusts Medway are never cut and dried legal matters. Our solicitors have stood by the side of many grieving families in developing a strategy to deal with the loss of a loved one and address the legal issues arising from this event. Our compassionate solicitors Medway will provide clear and straightforward advice about the steps you need to take to protect you and your family's interests at this painful time.

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Is a loved one’s estate causing you distress? Do you find yourself worrying about loss of quality of life, loss of autonomy, and loss of independence for someone you care about? If so, there is good news. You don’t have to give up legal control or even be in charge.  Probate in Medway . We'll do everything in our power to make the probate process as short and straightforward as possible, leaving you and your family members to concentrate on supporting each other.

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Have you ever thought about making a Will? It’s something you should do; after all, it’s the most crucial document that you will ever sign, and no one else can sign it for you. You might also like to consider Medway Power of Attorney or Medway Trusts. We can help guide you through this process, so please contact us .

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Wills probate single source of legal advice and support for people, businesses and communities across the uk. our legal helpline offers you free access to an expert lawyer in medway to help keep things running smoothly., will and probate services, our wills & probate services department creates, executes and maintains your estate plan by writing and executing wills, trusts, medical powers of attorney, and much more., medway wills.

Our Medway Wills cover all the key areas and ensure your final wishes are carried out correctly. Your will is one of the essential documents you'll ever make, and it gives direction to what happens when you die.

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Powers of attorney for families in Medway allow someone else to decide on your behalf if you can't make one for yourself. Make sure your partner, wife or close relatives in Medway can carry out your wishes if you become unable.

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One-third of us need long term care in our later years in Medway. We can help you create a care plan for the future so that family members understand exactly what you want and need when planning for care. Having your Medway Will and Probate prepared before the family needs it, talk to experts Medway Will Probate.

Inheritance Tax in Medway

Married couples and civil partners can get all the Medway inheritance tax (IHT) benefits of married couples if their estate is worth less than the current threshold of £325,000 per person. Any income tax Medway advantages are also available to you. If your estate is worth more than £650,000, you can't claim the IHT marriage allowance. However, there is no limit on the amount of allowance that can be claimed for civil partners. The standard inheritance tax Medway rate is 40%. So if you pass on up to the threshold, nothing will be charged. But if your estate is above that amount, then the 40% rate will be charged on the part of your estate in Medway that’s above the threshold.

LIVING TRUST

If you have minor children or family who live in Medway, you will want to have a Will in place rather than a Living Trust, since only the assets you own in your own name can be covered by a Trust. This is usually limited to your home and car. However, with one of these documents in place, you will be able to do all of the things that an experienced attorney would do for his or her clients with the added benefit of feeling more secure knowing that these details are spelled out in writing.

Medway Inheritance Tax

Inheritance tax medway planning services can help you manage the long-term implications of leaving a significant estate behind., medway estate planning, estate planning medway offers the most advanced estate planning techniques and the most efficient writing process. we are not an old, and dusty law firm stuck in the past. , medway wills and probate solicitors, for generations, wills and probate solicitors medway has helped families plan for the future. our experienced lawyer offers a wide range of services that include preparing and witnessing wills and applying for grants of probate..

Need advice on wills and probate Medway. Talk to our team on ‭‭07584 283 821

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• 22 May 2024
• Correction 23 May 2024

Bizarre bacteria defy textbooks by writing new genes

• Ewen Callaway

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

A bacterial enzyme turns biology on its head by reading RNA (artist’s illustration) into DNA that forms new genes. Credit: Artur Plawgo/Science Photo Library

Genetic information usually travels down a one-way street: genes written in DNA serve as the template for making RNA molecules, which are then translated into proteins . That tidy textbook story got a bit complicated in 1970 when scientists discovered that some viruses have enzymes called reverse transcriptases, which scribe RNA into DNA — the reverse of the usual traffic flow.

Now, scientists have discovered an even weirder twist 1 . A bacterial version of reverse transcriptase reads RNA as a template to make completely new genes written in DNA. These genes are then transcribed back into RNA, which is translated into protective proteins when a bacterium is infected by a virus . By contrast, viral reverse transcriptases don’t make new genes; they merely transfer information from RNA to DNA.

“This is crazy molecular biology,” says Aude Bernheim, a bioinformatician at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, who was not involved in the research. “I would have never guessed this type of mechanism existed.”

One-up on CRISPR

Bacteria fend off viruses and other invaders by deploying myriad defences , such as the juggernaut gene-editing system CRISPR . One of the more mysterious defence systems contains the DNA gene for a reverse transcriptase and a short stretch of mysterious RNA without any clear function: the sequence didn’t seem to encode any protein.

To work out how this system works, a team co-led by molecular biologist Stephen Tang and biochemist Samuel Sternberg, both at Columbia University in New York City, searched for the DNA molecules made by a reverse transcriptase from bacteria called Klebsiella pneumoniae . It found very long DNA sequences that consisted of numerous identical repeating segments. Each segment matched a chunk of the mysterious RNA.

Loop-the-loop

To explain this, the authors note that long RNA strands can form hairpin-like shapes, bringing two distant portions close to each other. The researchers found that the K. pneumoniae reverse transcriptase was doing repeated ‘laps’ around the RNA sequence, which was looped over itself like a shoelace, writing the same RNA molecule into DNA many times over. This created a repetitive DNA sequence.

How scientists are hacking the genetic code to give proteins new powers

The repeated segments created a protein-coding sequence called an open reading frame. The researchers named this sequence neo , for ‘never-ending open reading frame’, because it lacks a sequence that signals the end of a protein and, therefore, theoretically has no limit. They then found that viral infection triggers the production of the Neo protein, which causes cells to stop dividing. The findings, which have not yet been peer reviewed, were posted to the bioRxiv preprint server on 8 May.

How Neo halts growth of infected cells isn’t yet clear, the researchers say. A predicted 3D structure of a portion of Neo — its length probably varies depending on how much of its RNA gets translated — suggests that it forms a series of helices. Experiments showed that breaking up these shapes stymied Neo’s toxic effects. Exactly how viral infection kicks off the creation of the Neo protein is also a mystery, says Bernheim. “This I am burning to know.”

Wonderful life

The discovery that reverse transcriptase — which has previously been known only for copying genetic material — can create completely new genes has left other researchers gobsmacked. “This looks like biology from alien organisms,” Israel Fernandez, a computational chemist at Complutense University of Madrid, wrote on X.

“Their findings were astonishing,” says Nicolás Toro García, a molecular biologist at Zaidín Experimental Research Station, Spanish National Research Council, in Granada, Spain, and should help researchers to develop biotechnology applications for the system.

The discovery has even left Sternberg in awe: “It should change the way we look at the genome.”

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01477-8

Updates & Corrections

Correction 23 May 2024 : An earlier version of this article included an incorrect city name for Nicolás Toro García and omitted the full name of his institution.

Tang, S. et al. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.08.593200 (2024).

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Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine

Associate Editor, Nature Briefing

Associate Editor, Nature Briefing Permanent, full time Location: London, UK Closing date: 10th June 2024   Nature, the world’s most authoritative s...

London (Central), London (Greater) (GB)

Springer Nature Ltd

Professor, Division Director, Translational and Clinical Pharmacology

Cincinnati Children’s seeks a director of the Division of Translational and Clinical Pharmacology.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati Children's Hospital & Medical Center

Data Analyst for Gene Regulation as an Academic Functional Specialist

The Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn is an international research university with a broad spectrum of subjects. With 200 years of his...

53113, Bonn (DE)

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität

Recruitment of Global Talent at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOZ, CAS)

The Institute of Zoology (IOZ), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), is seeking global talents around the world.

Beijing, China

Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOZ, CAS)

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