Duncan Lewis Legacy Planning: wills, trusts and probate

Yes. A will is about decisions as much as money: who inherits, who deals with your estate and who looks after your children. Without a valid will, your estate passes under the rules of intestacy, which may not reflect your wishes.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets you appoint people you trust to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity. There are two types: one for property and financial affairs, and one for health and welfare. An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used.

A will takes effect on death and sets out how your estate is distributed. A trust holds assets for beneficiaries and can be set up in your will or during your lifetime. Trusts can give more control over when and how people inherit, and may help with tax planning.

It is sensible to review your will every few years and after any major life event. In England and Wales, getting married or entering a civil partnership usually revokes an existing will, so it is important to update it.

Yes. We can apply for the grant of probate, deal with Inheritance Tax and administer the estate, or advise executors who prefer to do some of the work themselves. Fixed fee quotations are often available.