Private Client Services

Wills

We believe that everyone should have a Will to ensure that their wishes are carried out. We can provide expert and friendly help on the preparation of a Will taking into account all relevant factors including family circumstances, legal and tax issues. In particular we can advise on Inheritance Tax and provide guidance on Inheritance Tax planning including available reliefs and exceptions. A word of warning – if you do not make a Will then your estate will be termed intestate and this means that the law will decide who will be entitled to inherit your estate. Sometimes this may not be very different from the person’s wishes but in other cases the estate may pass to remote relations. The administration of an estate may also take longer and may be more costly without a Will. However these issues can be avoided by the sensible option of making a Will.

Administration of Estates

When someone dies it can be difficult for family members or friends to cope with their loss along with all of the practical matters which have to be dealt with on death. We have extensive experience in dealing with estates and we are here to provide sympathetic yet practical help and guidance on all matters including registering the death, arranging the funeral, looking after and keeping properties secure. We can also provide professional services in dealing with the winding up of the estate from initial investigation of the estate including the assessment of any Inheritance Tax and obtaining Confirmation from the Sheriff Court. Confirmation may be required to realise the estate including the sale or transfer of assets and the final distribution of the estate in accordance with the deceased’s Will or by Law. Our aim is to deal with this process in an efficient and understanding manner and to complete the administration of the estate with the minimum fuss and delay.

Continuing and Welfare Powers of Attorney

A Continuing and Welfare Power of Attorney has become an essential and very useful tool for financial and personal lifetime planning and will be particularly useful in the unfortunate event that a person loses capacity to deal with their financial affairs or is unable to make decisions regarding their care and welfare.

A Continuing and Welfare Power of Attorney is a very important document and must be properly prepared to appoint a suitable attorney or attorneys and to include appropriate financial and welfare powers. In order to be legally effective, a specified person, including a Solicitor, must certify that the Power of Attorney has been properly granted. The Power of Attorney then requires to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland), which we can do by electronic means.