Wills & Probate
The death of a family member or close friend is always distressing.
It can also be made worse by the uncertainty involved in sorting out the deceased’s financial affairs. Executors have responsibilities that must be exercised properly and beneficiaries have expectations that will need to be managed sensitively.
Making a will involves making important decisions about the future. It is important to consider whom you wish to benefit and who should be responsible for the administration of your affairs. We will guide you through the will making process and then proceed to draft and execute the documents required. It is important to review your will annually and if you require any changes to be made then please contact us.
An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document that covers and nominates a person to manage your financial affairs in certain circumstances, in particular, if you become incapacitated. It is important because, even though you may have chosen an executor for a will, the will has no effect until you pass away, whereas the Enduring Power of Attorney allows for management of your affairs by your chosen person while you are still alive but going through a period of crisis.
In some cases where it was not possible to have an enduring power of attorney made, relatives of a person may have to apply to be appointed as controller of their affairs if the person is no longer capable of managing by him or herself . We have considerable experience handling these applications and can guide you through what can seem like a complex process.
Probate and Administration of Estates
The death of a family member or close friend is always distressing. We try to deal with such cases in a sensitive manner. If the deceased left a will, then we can obtain the Grant of Probate for the Executor of the will. Executors have responsibilities that must be exercised properly and we can assist in the administration of the estate to the beneficiaries on their behalf.
If the deceased did not leave a will, then we can apply for the Letters of Administration of Estate and can administer the estate according to the laws of intestacy.