Making A Will
No one likes to think about their death and what they’d want to happen to their assets. Sadly, dying without a properly drawn up Will can cause a great deal of wasted time, unnecessary expense and heartache, as well as hassle from disputes that could easily be avoided. And there are the potential inheritance tax implications to consider, too.
Our service takes you through all the relevant things you need to think about as well as drawing up a will that really reflects your wishes. We can help whether you need a single will for a modest estate, or if your affairs are more complex with both personal and business assets to consider.
Many people avoid paying for a will by using other methods, but often this can be a false economy – Please feel free to call Alfred James & Co Solicitors LLP today to book an appointment.
Probate
When a loved one dies it is often difficult to know where to turn for advice. Sorting out someone’s estate by yourself, also called going through probate, can be very daunting.
Alfred James & Co Solicitors LLP have been established probate solicitors in South Croydon for over 20 years. We have been helping clients throughout Croydon, Surrey and beyond by providing expert assistance when they need it most.
We are happy to give you legal advice to explain what is involved in administering an estate and the first steps that you need to take.
What is “Probate”?
The legal process for dealing with the estate of a person who has died is known as “probate”. The probate process differs depending on whether the deceased person left a will or whether he or she died without one.
If there is a will then the executors named in that will are responsible for administering the estate.
What if someone dies without a will?
If there is no will then the person(s) entitled to administer the estate is determined in accordance with a legal order of priority. The Intestacy Rules will apply to this situation.
The Intestacy Rules change ever so often, and so it is very important that you have good, up to date, legal advice if a loved one has died without leaving a will. The longer you leave it, the more difficult it can be to sort out someone’s estate after they have died.
What needs to be done after someone dies?
The “estate” is the name give to the property and other belongings, including any cash in the bank, owned by the person who has died.
Dealing with an estate can prove time consuming and complex. The assets and liabilities of the estate need to be ascertained and valued and sometimes expert assistance is needed to do this.
There may be inheritance tax to pay and sometimes it is necessary to set up a trust, whether this is for a young or vulnerable person or for beneficiaries named in a trust created by will.
Who is an Executor?
An “executor” is the person named in a will, (and can be a friend, family member, or a solicitor – or a combination of these), whose job it is to sort out the estate of the deceased person.
How We Can Help You
At Alfred James & Co Solicitors LLP, we act as both professional executors (appointed by the person who has died, in their will) and on behalf of other executors appointed in a will (or persons entitled to administer an estate where there is no will). This can take the stress and worry away from the executors and other family members so that they can grieve in their own way.
We pride ourselves on administering estates quickly and efficiently and we recognise how it is often very important for a deceased person’s loved ones to close this chapter of their lives.
Care Guide
If you need advice on care and pension planning then you can contact UK Care Guide by reviewing their link on this page for further assistance by contacting them https://ukcareguide.co.uk/
OUR SERVICES & PRICING
Please click the link below to read our pricing structure and more about our Services:
Probate – Pricing
Drafting of a Single will – £250 + VAT
Drafting of a Mirror/Joint will – £350 + VAT
Applying for Probate – £1500 + VAT, excludes any administration of the estate and excludes the court fee.
For any other type of matter, please kindly give us a call to discuss how much our fees will be.
Our Team
Adedeji Sijuwade
Deji is the Managing and Senior Partner of our firm with over 20 years’ experience in private client work. He also specialises in areas such as Housing Law, Landlord & Tenant, Immigration, Personal Injury and International Commercial Transactions and Business Law.
Deji has been working in these areas since he qualified and has helped thousands of families and individuals with his wealth of legal experience.
Deji is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales and a Member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.
Education: Legal Practice Course University of Hertfordshire 2004
Year of Qualification: 2006
Adebayo Ogunbode
Adebayo qualified as a solicitor in 2002. He obtained his master’s degree (LLM) from Kings College University in London (1989). Adebayo has gained experience in the following areas of law namely Prison, Criminal litigation, Civil Litigation, Immigration, Employment, Probate and Landlord and Tenant. Adebayo currently specialises in property law (Residential and Commercial) as well as Probate and Civil Litigation matters (related to property matters) with his experience in the same spanning over 13 years. Adebayo has kept himself abreast in Residential & Commercial Property as well as Probate law being the daily areas of his practice. He also keeps himself abreast of his other areas by attending several professional development courses.
Year of Qualification: 2002
Omowunmi Morohundiya
Omowunmi qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 2005. She attended The University of Buckingham. She has a wide range of Legal Professional experience in both the Public and Private Sectors having worked extensively with various local Authorities and thereafter private law practice. She currently covers Private Client work in Family, Probate, P.I and General Civil Matters in our firm.
Year of Qualification: 2005
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