Forshaws Davies Ridgway specialise in handling all aspects of your personal legal matters. This includes dealing with probate, setting up and administering trusts as well as drawing up wills.
We have very experienced lawyers to guide clients through the most simple or complex matters. Everyone has their own wishes for the future distribution of their possessions and we take great care to ensure these wishes are fulfilled. The care of children and loved ones is also documented and administered in order that the client’s wishes are observed.
Half of adults in the UK die without having made a will. This can result in relatives losing out on what is rightfully theirs.
Forshaws Davies Ridgway’s Wills Team make writing or reviewing a Will a straightforward process. Renowned for explaining the process in plain English, our team will work with you - to assess your current and future situation, and prepare a Will that is designed to cover every eventuality. It is very important that everything is explained carefully so that clients fully understand the process and what they are documenting.
A Trust is a fund containing assets that are controlled by the individual and/or a nominated third party for the benefit of a specific individual(s). They are governed by complex legal regulations and separate tax rules. A Trust can be set up at any time during the lifetime of an individual to become operative immediately or, not until their death. We can provide expert advice on Trusts and their tax implications.
Inheritance tax planning
When trying to minimise the inheritance tax payable on an estate by beneficiaries, there are many considerations and options to be taken, depending on the circumstances. Subject to the particular circumstances, the size of the estate and various other factors, we can help plan by providing a list of options and their advantages and disadvantages.
Long term care planning
It's hard for anyone to imagine not being able to live in their own home, and look after themselves. Planning at the right time to make sure any care needed in the future is covered without having to sell your home is important for some people.
Living wills
A Living Will can record an individual’s wishes, with respect to certain medical procedures that are/are not to be employed on loss of mental capacity ("advanced directive"). Alternatively, a Living Will can record beliefs on such procedures for the family to consider should a difficult decision with regard to health have to be made ("non-advanced directive").
When someone dies it is necessary for somebody to deal with their "estate". A person's estate consists of the money, property and any possessions they had at the time of their death. This procedure is called Probate and means collecting any money that they are owed, settling any debts due (including outstanding taxes) and dividing the estate amongst the respective beneficiaries. Forshaws Davies Ridgway has a team of exceptionally experienced and knowledgeable
All assets (including property) in an estate will remain frozen, until a ‘Grant of Representation’ confirms who is authorised to administer the estate. Forshaws Davies Ridgway will begin this process very early without placing any burden on the beneficiaries.
Grant of Registration is usually necessary where the deceased held assets in their own name. Where assets are held jointly, e.g. with a surviving spouse, a Grant will not be normally be necessary as these assets usually pass automatically to the survivor. However a large number of estates will require a Grant to complete the administration. Banks, insurance companies etc will wish to see this document to confirm they are dealing with the right person.
Where there is no will or no appointment of an executor the personal representative is usually the deceased’s next of kin and an application for a Grant of Letters of Administration is required instead.