Wills and probate in Lichfield

Wills and probate solicitors in Lichfield

Making a will, arranging a lasting power of attorney or dealing with an estate in Lichfield? Our team at St Mary's Chambers takes you through each step.

Our probate fees and timescales Call 01543 263 456

In short

At St Mary's Chambers in Lichfield, David Lane's team of Rebecca Head, Adrian Schuck, Satnaam Kaur and Abby Dayman prepares wills and lasting powers of attorney and helps executors with probate, with typical probate fees from £1,250 plus VAT.

Wills and lasting powers of attorney
Probate from £1,250 plus VAT
Full members of STEP (TEP)
SRA regulated, 627635

The team

Your wills and probate team in Lichfield

The people who handle wills and probate at our Lichfield office.

Meet the wills, trusts and probate team

Director, Head of Wills, Probate and Trusts David Lane

Director Rebecca Head

Associate Director Adrian Schuck

Senior Associate Solicitor Satnaam Kaur

Solicitor Abby Dayman

Wills and probate

What the Lichfield team handles

Drawn from the Lichfield team's own work.

Everything our wills and probate team does

WillsFrom a straightforward will to one with trusts for children or a vulnerable beneficiary.
Lasting powers of attorneyProperty and financial affairs, and health and welfare.
Inheritance tax and care fees planningPlanning ahead for the people you leave behind.
TrustsWill trusts and lifetime trusts, including for disabled beneficiaries.
Probate and estate administrationApplying for the grant, or dealing with the whole estate.
Business and farm successionWills and lifetime trusts for business owners and farmers.

Fees

What it will cost

Typical probate fees as a guide, and a price for your will or power of attorney once we know what you need.

For probate, our typical fees start at:

Grant application only, where there is a will and no inheritance tax to pay: from £1,250 plus VAT
Full administration of the estate, where there is a will and no inheritance tax to pay: from £2,000 plus VAT

Estates without a will, or with inheritance tax to pay, cost more. These figures are for uncontested estates with all the assets in the UK, and court fees and other expenses come on top. For a will, a trust or a lasting power of attorney, call 01543 263 456 and we will give you a price for what you need. Our full price information is on our transparency page.

What our full estate administration service includes

Verifying the validity of the will
Identifying the legally appointed executors or administrators and the beneficiaries
Identifying the type of probate application needed
Valuing the estate for probate and inheritance tax
Preparing the relevant HMRC account
Calculating and arranging payment of any inheritance tax due
Preparing and submitting the application for the grant (a grant of probate, letters of administration or letters of administration with will annexed)
Answering any enquiries HMRC may raise, other than a full compliance check
Answering any enquiries from the Probate Registry
Receiving the grant and registering it with the relevant institutions
Cashing in assets or transferring them to beneficiaries (our property team quotes separately for any sale or transfer of a property in the estate)
Settling the estate's debts and expenses from estate funds
Reviewing the estate's inheritance tax position and paying any further tax or claiming any refund
Obtaining formal inheritance tax clearance from HMRC where required
Making sure the income tax and capital gains tax affairs of the person who died are in order during the administration
Preparing estate accounts and income statements for beneficiaries where required
Carrying out bankruptcy searches on beneficiaries
Paying all legacies
Distributing the rest of the estate to the residuary beneficiaries

Our fees are for uncontested estates where all the assets are in the UK. We always give you a tailored estimate once we have enough information about the estate. We keep you updated if it needs to change.

Our probate fees and timescales

Step by step

How probate works

Making a will is simpler: we take your instructions, send you a draft and arrange the signing.

Tell us about the estate
Send us the key paperwork, such as the will and details of the assets. We then give you a tailored estimate.
Valuing the estate
We find out what the estate owns and owes, value it for probate and inheritance tax and prepare any HMRC account that is needed.
Applying for the grant
Where inheritance tax is due, some of it normally has to be paid first. We then apply for the grant and answer any questions from the Probate Registry.
Collecting in and paying out
Once the grant is issued, we register it, collect in or transfer the assets and pay the estate's debts, expenses and any tax.
Accounts and distribution
We prepare the estate accounts, carry out bankruptcy searches on beneficiaries, pay the legacies and distribute the rest of the estate.

Local knowledge

Wills and estates in and around Lichfield

Will writing, lasting powers of attorney and probate in Lichfield are handled by our team at St Mary's Chambers, 5-7 Breadmarket Street, about 300 metres from the cathedral. David Lane, Director and Head of Wills, Probate and Trusts, leads the team, which acts for individuals and families in and around Lichfield and across Staffordshire and Birmingham.

Rebecca Head (Director) and Adrian Schuck (Associate Director) are both full members of STEP, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Rebecca's work includes inheritance tax and care fee planning, mental capacity issues and trusts. She can also arrange home or hospital visits where needed. Adrian acts for business owners and farmers on wills, lifetime trusts and succession planning. Satnaam Kaur, a Senior Associate Solicitor, prepares will trusts for vulnerable and disabled beneficiaries. Abby Dayman, a Solicitor, advises on lifetime planning and on all forms of power of attorney.

FAQs

Wills and probate in Lichfield: your questions

How much does will writing cost in Lichfield?

It depends on what you need, from a straightforward will to one with trusts for children or for a vulnerable beneficiary. We give you a price once we understand your circumstances and before you decide to go ahead. Call 01543 263 456 and tell us what you have in mind.

What is the difference between a solicitor and a will writer?

Will writing is not a reserved legal activity in England and Wales, so not everyone who offers it is regulated. Ansons Law is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (number 627635). Our work is covered by professional indemnity insurance. If you are ever unhappy, you can use our complaints procedure and then the Legal Ombudsman. Rebecca Head and Adrian Schuck are also full members of STEP (TEP).

Do I have to come to Breadmarket Street to sign my will?

Not necessarily. Your will must be signed in front of two adult witnesses who are both with you when you sign. Each witness then signs in your presence. Neither a beneficiary nor a beneficiary's husband, wife or civil partner should be a witness. You can sign with us at St Mary's Chambers. Rebecca Head can also arrange home or hospital visits where needed.

Can you store my will?

Yes. We offer free lifetime will storage. Let your executors know that we hold the original, because they will need it when they apply for probate.

Can you help with a lasting power of attorney?

Yes. A lasting power of attorney lets you choose who makes decisions for you, with one type for property and financial affairs and another for health and welfare. A health and welfare one can only be used if you lack capacity. Both must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before they can be used. Rebecca Head has particular experience of mental capacity issues. Abby Dayman and Satnaam Kaur also prepare lasting powers of attorney.

How much does probate cost and how long does it take?

Where there is a will and no inheritance tax to pay, our typical fee starts at £1,250 plus VAT for the grant application alone and at £2,000 plus VAT for full administration of the estate. The court's probate application fee is paid on top. As a guide, the grant application takes around three months and full administration 6 to 12 months, depending heavily on HMRC and Probate Registry processing times. These figures are for uncontested estates with all the assets in the UK. We give you a tailored estimate once we know about the estate.

Visit us

Our Lichfield office

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

St Mary's Chambers is on Breadmarket Street, beside the Market Square and about 300 metres from the cathedral. Call ahead and we will make sure the right person is free to see you.

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