We have received over 1,700 reviews on the website, earning us an overall five star rating. We have also been rated as ‘Excellent’ for value for money.
Our wills, trusts and probate team is based at Alexandra House. The Quay, Bideford, Devon, EX39 2HJ. We offer a full range of legal services to individuals and businesses in Bideford and the surrounding areas, including Appledore, Instow, Northam, Westward Ho!, Clovelly, Hartland, Torrington, Woolsery, and Abbotsham.
Our Wills, trusts and probate team helps individuals and families plan what happens to their assets during life and after death, and resolve issues if something goes wrong. Their work spans estate planning, administration, and tax efficiency. We also have a specialist inheritance dispute solicitor based at our Bideford office..
Here’s a clear breakdown of the main services they provide.
1. Making wills
Our solicitors can prepare a legally valid will that reflects your wishes and protects your family.
Typical support includes:
- drafting a new will
- updating an existing will after life milestones (such as marriage, divorce, children, property purchases)
- appointing executors and guardians
- structuring gifts efficiently
- protecting unmarried partners or stepchildren
- reducing inheritance tax exposure where appropriate
They also help avoid drafting mistakes that can lead to disputes later.
2. Estate planning and inheritance tax advice
Our solicitors advise on how to organise your affairs so more of your estate passes to the people you choose.
This may involve:
- inheritance tax planning
- lifetime gifting strategies
- use of trusts
- business and agricultural property relief planning
- succession planning for family businesses
- planning for second marriages and blended families
Good estate planning can prevent expensive problems later.
3. Setting up trusts
Trusts are often used to protect assets and manage how money is passed on.
Our team can advise on and prepare trusts such as:
- life interest trusts
- discretionary trusts
- trusts for children or vulnerable beneficiaries
- property protection trusts
- tax-efficient family trusts
4. Probate and estate administration
When someone dies, our solicitors can help executors deal with the estate properly and efficiently.
This can include:
- applying for a grant of probate
- valuing assets and liabilities
- handling inheritance tax reporting
- collecting assets
- paying debts
- distributing inheritances
- preparing estate accounts
We can either guide executors or handle the entire process ourselves.
5. Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs)
We can prepare Lasting Powers of Attorney, which allow someone you trust to make decisions if you lose mental capacity.
LPAs cover:
- financial decisions
- property management
- health and welfare decisions
We also advise attorneys on their duties.
6. Court of Protection work
If someone has already lost capacity and no LPA exists, our team is able to:
- apply to become a deputy
- manage finances on someone’s behalf
- advise families about capacity issues
- assist with statutory wills
This work is especially important for vulnerable individuals.
7. Resolving inheritance disputes
When things go wrong after someone dies, we have a specialist solicitor in Bideford who deals with legal disputes such as:
- Contested wills
- Inheritance Act claims
- Executor disputes
- Trust disagreements
- Capacity or undue influence challenges
In addition to our office in Bideford, we also have offices in Barnstaple, Tiverton, Exeter, South Molton, Bristol, Taunton, and Braunton.
Our solicitors are SRA regulated, and we have been awarded Lexcel accreditation for excellence in client care.
If you would like our assistance with any of these services, then simply give us a call, send an email, or pop in to see us.
To contact the top solicitors in Bideford for Wills, Trusts and Probate, simply call our free legal helpline on 0333 888 0404, email [email protected] or visit us at Alexandra House on the Quay.
