Guiding you through all aspects of wills, trusts and probate

Making a will is the only way to guarantee that your money and belongings are distributed to your loved ones as you so wish following your death.

While it’s possible to write your own will, the best way to ensure your will is validly executed is to work with experienced lawyers who can guide you through the process. An invalid will is one of the grounds for contesting a will, so it is important that it is drafted correctly.

For some people, setting up a trust, within the will, can be an effective way to protect your assets - including land, buildings, money and investments - and to manage them efficiently for your beneficiaries.

Trusts can help to mitigate tax, in particular inheritance tax. They can also protect assets for beneficiaries who lack experience with large sums of money or provide income for vulnerable relatives, for example.

Probate is the term used for the legal and financial process needed to deal with someone’s estate. The executors of the will must apply for a grant of probate, which gives them the legal right to manage the estate and distribute according to the will.

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How we can help

Our experienced lawyers offer a full range of services to help you put your affairs in order, protect your assets and ensure your estate is managed as you wish when you die.

We can also advise family members on all matters around probate and estate administration when a loved one dies, including completing the necessary HMRC accounts and calculating inheritance tax.

We have vast experience of working with individuals to protect their wealth and can advise on bespoke solutions based on individual circumstances, including setting up trusts to ringfence certain assets, and disputing trusts when needed.

We will take the time to get to know you so that we understand the issues that matter to you and your family. We work closely to form long term relationships with you and your professional advisers to plan for the challenges that may arise in the future.

Related experience

Wills

Trusts

Probate and estate administration

Court of Protection

Powers of Attorney

Charities and not-for-profit

Working with high-net-worth individuals

We have a dedicated High Net Worth team ready to help you manage and protect your wealth for the benefit of future generations.

Our experienced and friendly lawyers will take a holistic approach to ensure your needs are met and we will develop creative solutions to secure you the desired outcome.

Working alongside colleagues on other teams, to include business services, residential property and commercial real estate, where appropriate, we will devise a bespoke strategy based around careful tax planning. We will also look at the potential for other tax mitigating options such as trusts and Family Investment Companies.

Working with business owners

Considering what will happen to your business when you die is vitally important – and our research shows many business owners neglect succession planning.

If you are planning to pass on assets to individuals or family members when you die, our team of specialist lawyers are here to help you structure your estate efficiently. We will also ensure your will and business documents are aligned so that your wishes can be effectively carried out after death.

As a business owner, it is crucial to consider who should make business decisions with the best interests of the business at heart should you have an accident or lose mental capacity. We can help you set up a business Powers of Attorney so that you can be assured your interest in the business is in safe hands should the unexpected happen.

Our lawyers are passionate about business and business people. We know that in the day-to-day struggles of management, planning for the future can sometimes get overlooked. We can help ensure your business is futureproofed with simplified, honest advice.

“The Higgs team are incredibly skilled and knowledgeable and more importantly they can connect with clients"

A satisfied client

Why choose us as your wills, trusts, probate lawyers

Many of our clients work with us throughout their lives and we work with them collaboratively to provide wealth protection strategies as their circumstances change. They choose us for a multitude of reasons, but not least because of our enviable reputation, our experience and the approachability of our lawyers.

We specialise in offering a bespoke, tailored service that truly looks at your individual circumstances and your goals before advising on a long term approach.

Whether a straightforward will or a complex mix of strategies to protect the wealth of a high net worth individual, we will ensure you receive the advice that puts your mind at ease, safe in the knowledge the future is assured for your loved ones.