Wills, Probate & Trusts
Wills
Making a will or reviewing your existing will, is an opportunity for you to review your affairs as a whole and we can advise on other related areas of the law that you may not have considered. A will removes uncertainty and allows you to decide how best to provide for your family after your death. We have considerable experience and expertise that can help you in making your will. If you don’t make a will it leaves your estate open to much uncertainty and expense and your family will have to deal with your affairs.
Probate and Intestacy
We pride ourselves on being dedicated to looking after you and your family interests and our experts can assist at this very difficult time. If a person that has died left a will, their wishes will be set out clearly. The appointed executors are likely to need to get a grant of probate. If someone dies without a will, then it is the spouse or other closest relatives that will be the people who will have the right to manage the deceased's estate.
Trusts and Tax Planning
Setting up Trusts and general tax planning can save thousands of pounds in Inheritance Tax. The law is constantly changing in this area as the government attempts to close down these very helpful tools to minimise your risks in paying more tax than you need to.
There are many different schemes available that need to be individually tailored to the individual’s circumstances. Our experienced specialists will use their extensive knowledge to find a plan that suits your needs.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
No one knows what will happen in our lives. Should the worst happen for whatever reason and you cannot make decisions about your money or welfare yourself, we all want to make it as easy as possible for our friends and family to help us.
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a document that enables someone you know and trust to manage your affairs on your behalf. There are two types of LPA - you can make one in relation to your property and financial affairs and a separate LPA in respect of your personal welfare.
Elderly Client Advice / Care Home Fees
Elderly client advice encompasses Wills, Tax Planning, Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorneys and Care Home Fee planning. We specialise in dealing with all issues affecting the elderly. We are proud to be highly respected in this area for our sympathetic, professional and caring advice.
We appreciate that some of our clients will be unable to travel to our offices easily. We are more than happy to visit you at home if it is more convenient.
Court of Protection and Deputyship Appointments
The Court of Protection manages the property, financial affairs and personal welfare of people who lack mental capacity to make decisions. If a person has not made a Lasting Power of Attorney or, prior to October 2007 an Enduring Power of Attorney, an application must be made to the Court of Protection for someone to be appointed as a deputy to act on their behalf.
Your Caunters Contact - James Outten
James lives near Liskeard, joined the firm in 2004 and trained with Caunters Solicitors, qualifying in 2006. James is the head of the Wills, Probate and Trusts department and undertakes conveyancing work. He is a director of Caunters Solicitors Ltd. and is on the committee of the Cornwall Law Society.
