Wills and Probate

Many people do not make wills which can lead to difficulties later. At Farnworth Shaw we are able to offer a complete will drafting service.

Prices start from as little as £75 plus VAT.

If you aren't the beneficiary under a will and you were dependent upon the person who has died (because you were a partner who wasn't provided for by a will or a dependant child who wasn't provided for by a will) you may well be able to challenge the will and we do have expertise relating to contesting wills through the courts, should the need arise.

Lasting Powers of Attorney

As society changes, and people live longer more people are now considering what problems lie ahead if they need someone to look after their affairs for a number of years.

We do of course deal with Wills competitively so that you can be sure your loved ones will not be exposed to rigid intestacy rules when you die but you may not have thought that steps might need to be taken to protect yourself and your family in the event you become incapable of handling your own affairs.

Without a Lasting Power of Attorney, if you become incapable of running your affairs a lengthy and expensive application is needed to the Court of Protection taking many months and meanwhile who looks after your husband, wife or family or pays the rent or mortgage?

Lasting Powers of Attorney can be made long before you become infirm physically or mentally, so that you can direct, in advance, who can look after your money or your welfare should the need arise.

They do not become active until the need arises and they never expire unless you specifically cancel or alter them, which means once dealt with all you need to do is tell your Attorney you have done it and then you have the peace of mind that it has been taken care of for good.

Once the need arises, your Attorney (who can be a spouse, friend, relative or ourselves), can access your funds straight away and if you need it, make welfare decisions for you, for example, about where you might live or they can access your money to pay the bills if you cannot do this.

The cost of addressing this now is less than you might expect.

If you want to talk about this and learn more, feel free to contact us.

We also assist in the administration of estates large and small.

If you are a beneficiary under a will and are unsure of your rights, we may be able to help.

Partner Peter Bolton is in charge of this department and partner Andrew Payne would deal with the process of challenging a will. Assisting in this department are solicitor Dawn Walmsley and Legal Executive Mandy Howfield.

For more information please click here to complete our enquiry form.