Most people know they should make a will. Far fewer get round to it. It tends to sit on the list of things that can wait until next year, until a house move, a new baby, a diagnosis or a bereavement turns it into something that should have been done long ago. The same is true of lasting powers of attorney, and of the practical business of administering an estate after someone has died. None of it is urgent until it suddenly is.
At Beeston Shenton, our wills and probate team in Newcastle-under-Lyme helps people across Staffordshire and Cheshire put these things in order properly, so that your wishes are clear, your family is spared avoidable difficulty, and the people you trust have the authority they need when it matters. This article sets out the full range of what we can help with. If any of it applies to you, our contact details are at the foot of the page.
Will Writing Services
A will is the document that decides who inherits what, who looks after any children, and who is responsible for carrying out your wishes. Without one, the rules of intestacy decide for you, and they rarely match what most people would actually want.
Our team makes sure your will is clear and precise, so that your property and assets pass according to your instructions and the risk of later confusion or challenge is kept to a minimum. Wills are not just for the elderly. Anyone with a home, savings, dependants or strong wishes about their estate has a reason to have one in place.
Will Reviews
Many people assume that once a will is written, the job is done. In practice, life moves on. Marriages, separations, new children, property purchases, business interests and changes to inheritance tax rules can all leave an existing will out of date or working against you.
We offer a free consultation to identify whether changes to your will would be worthwhile. It is a short conversation that often saves a great deal of trouble later, and it costs nothing to find out where you stand.
Probate and Estate Administration
When someone dies, dealing with their estate can feel daunting at exactly the time you have least energy for paperwork. The probate process, valuing the estate, settling liabilities and distributing what remains, can be genuinely confusing for anyone facing it for the first time.
Our team can take that weight off you. We guide executors and administrators through the application, handle the formalities, and keep things moving as efficiently as the circumstances allow. We are used to acting for families based in different parts of the country, and we can work flexibly, in person at our offices or remotely, depending on what suits you.
Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney
A property and financial affairs lasting power of attorney gives someone you trust the legal authority to deal with your money and property if you become unable to do so yourself. That covers everyday matters such as paying bills, as well as larger decisions about property and finances.
Our solicitors make sure the document is watertight and valid, so that the person or people you have chosen can act without obstruction if the day ever comes when they need to.
Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney
A health and welfare lasting power of attorney covers a different set of decisions. It allows the person you appoint to give or refuse consent to medical treatment, decide where you live, and make day to day choices about your care, but only if you are no longer able to make those decisions yourself.
We provide the advice and the drafting to put this in place correctly, so that the people who know you best are the ones speaking for you.
Business Powers of Attorney
If you own or run a business, it is worth asking what would happen to it if you were suddenly incapacitated. Could payments still be authorised? Could payroll still be approved? For many owner-managed businesses the honest answer is no, at least not without difficulty.
A business power of attorney puts the right authorisations in place so that the business can keep functioning in your absence. Our team can help you plan for this and give you the confidence that the day to day would not grind to a halt.
Why Clients Choose Our Wills and Probate Team
This is work where clarity and trust matter more than almost anything. You are setting out what should happen to everything you have worked for, and naming the people who will carry your wishes out. That deserves a solicitor who listens carefully and explains things in plain terms.
Our clients tell us as much. One, who had put off making a will for years, said she wished she had come to us sooner, describing a warm welcome at every stage and a will completed within days. Another, dealing with the unfamiliar probate process from a different county, valued how quickly and flexibly we worked to get the application processed and probate granted. These are not complicated stories. They are simply what good, attentive service looks like.
Talk to a Wills and Probate Solicitor in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford or Knutsford
Whether you are ready to make a will, need to review an existing one, are facing the probate process, or want to put a lasting power of attorney in place, our team would be glad to help.
Our head office is at 64 King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, with meeting rooms available by appointment in Stafford and Knutsford. We act for clients across Staffordshire and Cheshire.
- Newcastle-under-Lyme: 01782 662424
- Stafford: 01785 332999
- Knutsford: 01565 754444
- Email: info@beestonshenton.co.uk
Getting in touch puts you under no obligation, and an initial conversation is confidential.
You can see the full overview of our wills and probate services on our Wills and Probate page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Beeston Shenton’s wills and probate solicitors based?
Our head office is at 64 King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 1JB. We also have meeting rooms available by appointment in Stafford and Knutsford, and we act for clients across Staffordshire and Cheshire (by pre-booked appointment).
Do I really need a solicitor to write a will?
You are not legally required to use a solicitor, but a professionally drafted will reduces the risk of ambiguity, mistakes and later disputes. A solicitor can also make sure your will reflects your full circumstances, including property, business interests and tax considerations.
How often should I review my will?
It is sensible to review your will after any major life change, such as marriage, separation, a new child, a house move or a significant change in your finances, and periodically in any event. We offer a free discussion to help you decide whether changes are needed.
What is the difference between the two types of lasting power of attorney?
A property and financial affairs LPA covers money and property decisions. A health and welfare LPA covers medical treatment, care and where you live. Many people choose to put both in place.
Can you help with probate if family members live in different areas?
Yes. We regularly act for executors and beneficiaries based in different parts of the country and can work in person or remotely to suit you.
This article is intended as general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Each case turns on its own facts and you should always seek tailored advice from a qualified solicitor before acting on anything you read here. Beeston Shenton Solicitors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number: 420578).
