Probate Solicitors Barnstaple

It’s clear that family structures have become more complex in recent years, also our country’s ageing populating brings its own challenges when it comes to care fees and mental capacity, and on top of this, the ownership of foreign property has become more common. All these factors, combined with the challenges that come with writing a will means that special preparations are required to protect your family’s inheritance, and it has never been more important to ensure that detailed legal advice is taken for wills, asset protection, and succession planning.

Our Experience

Our team of probate solicitors in Barnstaple have supported families with specialist advice and guidance for decades.

The team includes lawyers who are members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), and lawyers who are members of the Probate Section of the Law Society and Solicitors for the Elderly. And if that wasn’t enough, some members of the department are ‘Dementia Friends’.

Together our team of probate solicitors have the legal and taxation expertise to provide a full range of services, including will writing, estate administration, lasting powers of attorney and deeds of variation. And if a dispute arises, we can always call on support from our specialist contentious probate department.

Planning for future generations

The Slee Blackwell team can support you in managing a smooth transfer of wealth from one generation to the next. The team will provide innovative solutions to estate planning that are bespoke to your needs, and fully tax efficient.

Protecting your children’s inheritance

We are more frequently advising parents and grandparents on how to protect your children’s inheritance. It’s very easy to overlook the limitations of a regular will, and easy to overlook the fact the reality that re-marriage, the Inheritance Act, the intestacy rules, and other legal provisions can frustrate your testamentary plans.

Our team of specialist experts are ready to work with you to ensure that your children’s inheritance is protected.

Practical, cost effective advice

Whether or not your legal affairs are simple or complex, it’s vital to get accurate advice. That’s why at Slee Blackwell we offer straight-talking, jargon-free, and cost-effective guidance that combines a practical approach to the law, with sensitivity and care.

Our team of specialists are transparent when it comes to the fees that we charge. The details of the pricing structure of our probate services can be found here. For a detailed, written estimate of fees in relation to any of our services, please just send us an email or give us a call.

Areas of Specialism:

Wills and Tax Planning

Planning your death is a difficult subject to face, but at Slee Blackwell we believe that we owe it to our nearest and dearest to put our financial and legal affairs in order by making a will, and just as importantly, keeping it up to date. This means you can safeguard vulnerable beneficiaries, preserve assets from being exhausted by Care Home fees, and most importantly, reduce the impact of inheritance tax. On top of this, it means you can protect your children’s inheritance from the consequences of re-marriage.

Administration of Estates

Our team of probate solicitors in Barnstaple offer a wide range of estate admin services that include; obtaining a Grant of Representation, dealing with the deceased’s tax affairs (Inheritance Tax, Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax), releasing assets, settling debts, and distributing the estate. We can also support you through the tax savings process, by varying your will for example. And if a farm or business that needs selling is included in your estate, we’ll work alongside our agricultural and commercial law teams to ensure the transaction runs smoothly.

Lasting Powers of Attorney

The Slee Blackwell team can offer support when it comes to the creation and registration of a Lasting Power of Attorney, which is a legal document that delegates the power to manage your financial affairs to an “attorney”, should you lose capacity. Having an LPA makes financial sense, but more importantly it offers invaluable peace of mind.

Elderly Care & the Court of Protection

Our team of probate solicitors in Barnstaple offer decades of experience in dealing with the Court of Protection; whether if it’s the registration of a Lasting Power of Attorney, or making an application for Deputyship. Our caring approach and specialist expertise will give you that all-important peace of mind.

Disputed Estates

Inheritance disputes are becoming increasingly common. We can advise on the best steps to take to avoid a dispute arising. Our team of probate solicitors in Barnstaple can also deal with any claim under the Inheritance Act or a challenge to the validity of a will.