Wills and Probate

Ralph Donner

I provide professional competent legal advice on all issues relating to Wills and Probate; please therefore do not hesitate to contact me to discuss your requirements

Phone: 01706 645 656

ralphdonner@fmdsolicitors.co.uk

Email:

Wills and Probate

My name is Ralph Donner. I qualified as a solicitor in 1978 having graduated with a Law degree from Manchester University in 1975.

I have worked as a solicitor in Rochdale for over 25 years. I follow traditional values but apply an up to date and common sense approach to the work that I undertake.

My fields of work are Wills - Probate - Conveyancing.

I can help you with:

• Making your Will.
• Making a Lasting Power of Attorney.
• Estate Planning (and saving Inheritance Tax).
• Elderly Client - Living Will - Residential Care issues.
• Registering your Will with the National Will Register (Certainty).
• Administration of an Estate.
• Obtaining a Grant of Probate.

I will advise you in plain English. (For example the Will that I prepare for you will be readable and understandable rather than riddled with gobbledygook).

I will deal with your matter personally from beginning to end without delegation to junior or unqualified staff.

I will apply professionalism, experience and common sense.

I will agree a budget for fees before you instruct me to proceed.

The Certainty National Will Register

I am pleased to confirm that this firm is member of the Certainty National Will Register – Certainty.co.uk

Writing a Will and regularly reviewing it is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. Therefore, it is essential that you ensure that your family can find it when you have passed on. If you are about to write your Will with this firm then you can register it.

Why should I register my Will?

In a recent survey, 67% of people questioned did not know where to find their parents’ Wills. When you register your Will its location is tagged. This firm will hold your Will safely, but we digitally record its location on the National Wills Register so that beneficiaries are able to locate it when the time comes.

Finding your Will ensures your last wishes are respected and that your estate can be distributed the way you had planned.

If your Will cannot be found, your estate is distributed under the rules of Intestacy which may not be in the way you had wished.

How Do I Register? Simply call 01706 645 656, write or complete on the call me back form (below) to enquire.

Fees for Wills

Here is a guide to fees for preparing a Will:

The fees indicated include the fee for registering your Will with the National Will Register.

The typical fee for a single simple will - £120 plus VAT

The typical fee for a pair of simple "mirror wills" (for example a couple who are married or in a civil partnership where the provisions of both wills are similar) - £180 plus VAT

NOTE: When you complete your will, we offer to store the original in our wills safe indefinitely for safekeeping. There is no charge for this service.

To enquire about these legal services, please call me on 01706 645 656 or fill in the form below and I'll be happy to discuss matters with you without obligation.

Wills and Probate FAQ's

Do I need a Will?

If you do not have a Will, you have no say over what happens to your assets when you die. This can cause difficulties for those you care about most. Therefore, everyone should have a Will. This is particularly important if you own property, are married or have entered a civil partnership, have a long-term partner, have children or other dependants, or if you wish to benefit someone who is not a close family member. Making a Will enables you to decide and specify how your assets will be dealt with after your death, giving peace of mind to you and those close to you. If you do not have a will the law will assume who you wish to benefit and by how much according to fixed rules. Those rules are intended to be fair, but more often than not would not reflect your wishes.

Do I need a Solicitor to prepare my Will?

You can write your own Will but it is a good idea to take professional advice. Your Will is important and professional advice will ensure that your Will complies with legal requirements, that your instructions are clear and will be followed after your death, and that you have taken advantage of any tax reliefs available to you. If there are errors or omissions in your will then the consequences are serious. The Will may not be valid at all, or it may be valid but lead to a different result than you intended, or if the irregularities can be put right this may involve substantial costs.

What is probate?

When a person dies somebody has to deal with their estate (money property and possessions left) by collecting in all the money, paying any debts and distributing what is left to those people entitled to it. Probate is the court’s authority; given to a person or persons to validate their entitlement to administer a deceased person’s estate. The document issued by the Probate Service is called a Grant of Probate (or, if there is no Will, a Grant of Representation). Unless the overall value of the property is very small (usually less than £15,000) you will have to show the Grant of Probate / Representation to banks, building societies, insurance companies and other financial institutions. This is so they can be sure you are the person entitled to deal with the deceased's assets and affairs.

How long will it take to get a Grant of Probate?

The process can take time, depending on the assets involved, but typically you should be able to apply for a Grant of Probate within three months of the date of death. The application will be processed by the District Probate Registry and typically you can expect the Probate Registry to issue the Grant within two to four weeks of the date of the application.

How much does getting Probate cost?

It is difficult to be precise because it depends on the content of the will, the type of assets comprised in the estate, the amount of time taken and correspondence generated, and whether there are any complicating factors. We will give you an estimate of the likely overall cost at the start of the process, and will tell you if the process becomes more complicated than was first anticipated. As a rough guide you will be advised to budget for typical costs at 1.5 % of the gross value of the estate (before inheritance tax has been paid) to obtain a Grant of Probate, plus a similar amount for the costs of dealing with and completing the administration.

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