Wills, Probate and Estate Planning Solicitors

Most people put this off. It is not urgent until suddenly it is, and by then the choices have narrowed — sometimes considerably.

We help families in Maidenhead and across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire with the legal side of planning ahead, and with sorting out an estate after someone has died. Both are handled by the same team, which means the person who writes your will is part of the same practice that would later administer your estate.

What we help with

Making a will

A will decides who inherits, who looks after your children, and who handles everything. Without one, the law decides for you — and the intestacy rules produce outcomes that surprise most people, particularly unmarried couples and blended families.

→ Will writing services

Probate and estate administration

When someone dies, their estate has to be valued, tax dealt with, debts settled and assets distributed. Executors carry personal legal responsibility for getting this right. We can handle the whole process or support you with the parts you would rather not do alone.

→ Probate and estate administration

Lasting powers of attorney

An LPA lets you choose who makes decisions for you if you become unable to make them yourself. It has to be made while you still have capacity — that is the whole point, and it is why leaving it too late is such a common and costly mistake.

→ Lasting powers of attorney

Estate planning and inheritance tax

Where an estate is likely to face inheritance tax, or where the family situation is complicated, planning ahead can make a substantial difference — to the tax bill and to the likelihood of a dispute.

→ Estate planning and inheritance tax

Trusts

Trusts can protect assets for children, for a vulnerable beneficiary, or for a partner while preserving capital for children from a previous relationship. They are not right for everyone, and we will tell you if we think a trust is unnecessary in your case.

Why people leave it, and why that costs money

Nobody enjoys thinking about this. But the practical consequences of delay are worth stating plainly, because they are usually financial as well as emotional.

Dying without a will means the intestacy rules apply. They are rigid. An unmarried partner of thirty years receives nothing automatically, however long you lived together. Stepchildren you raised receive nothing unless legally adopted. A surviving spouse may not inherit everything.

Losing capacity without an LPA means your family cannot simply step in. Banks freeze accounts. Nobody can sell the house or manage the finances. The only route is an application to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order — which typically takes several months, costs considerably more than an LPA would have, and brings ongoing supervision fees and annual reporting for as long as it lasts.

Leaving inheritance tax planning too late removes options. Most lifetime gifting relies on surviving seven years. Some reliefs need holding periods. Planning that would have been straightforward at 65 is often unavailable at 85.

None of that is said to alarm you. It is said because the fix in each case is modest, and the cost of not doing it is not.

How we work

Fixed fees wherever possible. You will know what it costs before we start. For probate, where the work genuinely varies, we give you a clear range and explain what would move you within it.

Plain English. This area is full of terminology that exists for good legal reasons and helps nobody in conversation. We will explain what things mean.

Home and hospital visits. Where a client cannot easily travel — through illness, age or mobility — we can come to you. Please ask.

Continuity. You will deal with the same person. For work of this kind, that matters.

We will tell you when you do not need us. If your affairs are simple and a straightforward will is all you need, we will say so rather than sell you a trust you have no use for.

Indicative fees

→ Full probate pricing — including the detailed breakdown required by our regulator.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need a solicitor to write a will? Legally, no. You can write your own. But the requirements under the Wills Act 1837 are strict, and a will that fails them is invalid — a problem discovered only after death, when it cannot be fixed. Home-made and template wills also account for a meaningful share of the disputes we see. Where affairs are genuinely simple, the cost of doing it properly is modest against the cost of getting it wrong.

How long does probate take? For a straightforward estate, commonly six to twelve months from death to distribution. Property that needs selling, inheritance tax, missing beneficiaries, or a dispute will all extend that. We will give you a realistic estimate once we know what is involved — not an optimistic one.

My partner and I are not married. Are we protected? Not under intestacy, no. There is no such thing as a common-law spouse in English law. Without a will, an unmarried partner inherits nothing automatically, regardless of how long you have been together or whether you have children. They may be able to bring a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, but that means court proceedings at a very difficult time. A will avoids all of it.

Can I change my will later? Yes, and you should review it after any major life event — marriage, divorce, children, a death, buying property, or a significant change in wealth. Marriage automatically revokes an existing will unless it was made in contemplation of that specific marriage. Divorce does not revoke a will, but your former spouse is treated as having died before you.

Do you offer home visits? Yes, where a client cannot easily travel to us. Please mention it when you get in touch.

Where should I keep my will? Somewhere safe, findable, and known to your executors. We offer secure storage and will provide you with a copy. A will nobody can locate is, in practical terms, no will at all.

Internal links out: /wills-probate/will-writing/ · /probate/ · /power-of-attorney/ · /estate-planning/ · /contact