Here at Spratt Endicott (operating nationwide), we are a highly experienced wills and probate solicitors in Banbury, Bicester, and Brackley and whatever your situation, we always endeavour to reach the best possible outcome, providing a level of service that is second-to-none. This section of the website provides information on what wills and probate solicitors do and in which circumstances you may need legal assistance, as well as providing an indication of Will writing service costs and how the process of probate works.
Lucy Gordon is a Director and head of the Wills and Probate department. Lucy is also a supervisor for her team. All our wills and probate solicitors are based in Banbury, Bicester and Brackley, but we provide our services to clients nationwide such as our will writing service.
Sometimes things aren’t as straightforward as a person dying and their assets being passed onto their nearest and dearest. If you die without a will (intestate), your property is automatically distributed in accordance with Intestacy laws, which isn’t always necessarily how you would choose it to be. You have the right to choose the destination of an estate, writing a will can ensure that your property goes where you intend it to.
As experienced will solicitors, we will discuss all your needs and put any worries you have at rest. We provide a wills preparation service to clients across the UK from our Banbury location.
Writing a Will can ensure the security of your loved ones, if you have children you can make sure they are looked after by the people chosen by you and also secure their financial future. In some cases, if you don’t write a will it could cause hardship and suffering for your family, and legal costs. It is safe to say that wills ensure peace of mind for the future of your family. In short, if you make a will, then you are calling the shots – rather than the government.
If you choose not to make a will, then you are leaving a lot in the hands of Intestacy rules and risk:
In the case of infant children, you are possibly trusting them to the good care of the local Social Services.
Surprisingly only around 30% of the population ever makes a will.
Failing to create a will, will mean that you die intestate, which in simple terms, means that the distribution of your assets will be done in accordance to Intestacy rules and not necessarily in accordance with your wishes.
If you die intestate with an estate of, say, £400,000, what would happen? It does depend upon who survives you. If you have no children then your estate passes to your spouse or civil partner, but if you leave children then it becomes quite complicated.
Under the intestacy rules your surviving spouse will receive your personal chattels and £270,000. What is left is divided into two:
By not making a Will, you put yourself into the hands of the Intestacy Rules – which most people agree are not very attractive.
When writing a will, it is crucial there are no mistakes. This is mainly so that there can be no dispute over what the will is trying to say or what the words mean.
For an immediate estimate of your will cost, either for a single or joint will for you and your spouse/civil partner/co-habitant please fill out our cost estimate form on this page.
You can also complete our Will Questionnaire here to provide more information with your enquiry.
After the death of a relative, it can sometimes be confusing for the family when finding all of the documents and information needed going forward. To simplify this we have produced a Personal Assets Log. This downloadable file can be accessed below.
Completing this and leaving it with a copy of your will and any other personal papers will help your family trace the information they will require at that time.
In this document you may also like to leave details of funeral/burial arrangements and any wishes you may have regarding these.
To learn more about how we can help you when it comes to understanding wills and probates, please contact Lucy Gordon or lgordon@se-law.co.uk and reach our Banbury, Bicester and Brackley offices today for will writing services and more. We provide our wills and probate services in Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire as well as nationally throughout the UK.
© 2022 Spratt Endicott, Spratt Endicott Solicitors are the trading names of Spratt Endicott Limited, a company registered in England & Wales (company no. 08030343) authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation
Authority (registration no. 608169) and by the Financial Conduct Authority (registration number: 709546).
Spratt Endicott Limited uses the word “Director” to refer to a statutory director of the company and certain
senior employees. A list of the statutory directors is available for inspection at our registered office, 52-54 The Green, Banbury OX16 9AB and at Statutory Directors. Website by Technique
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