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MEET THE TEAMSouthampton 023 8048 2482
Winchester 01962 679 777
When the time comes your probate team at Paris Smith can help you to obtain a grant of probate, advise on the merits of challenging a Will on behalf of a beneficiary or undertake complex inheritance tax calculations on your behalf.
There are various different types of trusts and our experts will be able to advise the right type for your needs. Trusts are a way of holding money, investments, land or property for the benefit of family or friends (known as beneficiaries) and are managed by people you appoint (known as trustees).
Our team can also advise on trust administration, including aspects such as managing investments or paying bills and collecting money due to the trust where relevant.
Wills have a number of roles to play; they enable you to plan in a tax-efficient way for the care of your family when you are no longer around. They also ensure that your estate and wealth are divided amongst your family as you would wish and that any minor children are cared for by the guardians that you would wish to appoint.
Estate planning is essential to ensure that your wealth is protected in a tax-efficient way for you and your family’s future. Our team will support you through the often complex world of Inheritance Tax planning, giving you peace of mind for all that the future brings.
Lasting Powers of Attorney protect your interests while you’re still alive. They give a person or people of your choice the ability to make decisions for you when you no longer have capacity to do so. Your attorneys will be able to deal with your property and financial affairs and make health and welfare decisions on your behalf. It’s possible to restrict powers and provide guidance for certain situations.
As an executor of a Will, in most instances you will need to apply for a Grant of Probate to enable you to deal with the distribution of the deceased’s estate. Until Probate is obtained the assets of the estate are ‘frozen’ to safeguard them against an ‘incorrect distribution’ to the wrong people. This means that without the Grant of Probate a property cannot be sold and the deceased’s bank accounts and other financial assets cannot be accessed.
If someone has died without a Will, then you can apply to become the administrator of the estate and will then need to apply for Letters of Administration. This will give you the necessary rights to be able to ensure the property and finances can be dealt with.
Estate administration services
For information on how we charge for this service please see our costs information sheet.
Whilst based in the South of England, Paris Smith acts for businesses and families throughout the UK. Technology has enabled us to provide a high level of service to our clients whether they are local to our offices or not. Our advice can be given in many ways:
We will talk through how you would like to be contacted and the best ways for us to meet in our early conversations with you.
Our Trusts, Wills & Estate Administration team is made up of 3 partners, 1 consultant, 1 senior associate, 5 solicitors, 3 senior paralegals, 2 paralegals and 1 trainee solicitor. You can find contact details for them below.
The lawyers at Paris Smith advise wealthy clients on a range of succession planning techniques including estate planning and trusts. The team also advises on tax planning.
Several sources praise the firm’s client service. One interviewee says: “They are very professional, the service feels very tailored and personal to clients.” Another source notes: “They are knowledgeable and responsive to client needs.“
Paris Smith LLP’s expertise in the trusts and estate planning sphere sees it acting for a broad client base throughout Southampton and Winchester, including farmers, property investors, and business owners with significant assets. Practice head Elizabeth Power is well-versed in Court of Protection matters, and leads a team dedicated to safeguarding the interests of vulnerable people, while Nick Turner handles a range of tax planning and asset structuring matters for elderly clients. Isabel Deverill and William Hadley jointly lead the Winchester office, concentrating on wills and agricultural relief matters respectively. Winchester-based Jason Oliver leads the contentious probate and trusts disputes team, and often acts on behalf of clients at the High Court. All named lawyers are based in Southampton unless noted otherwise.
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