Lodge Brothers Legal Probate is Ready to Help You

Life inevitably tends to get away from us, with busy family lives, balancing mental, emotional and physical well-being, care-taking responsibilities, logistics of time and energy and generally trying to squeeze it all in and doing the things that need doing being more of a focus for the average individual. List of things to do can often extend over to page 2 as we try to stay on top of our lives. Which is why our end-of-life plans tend to come at the end of the list… after all, this isn’t something that has to be dealt with now, right? Not necessarily and unfortunately for some, this time of life comes to us sooner than later and we are forced to take a long hard look at how we want to manage our end of life.

Helen MacDiarmid

Statistics show that roughly 1/3rd of people living in the UK die intestate resulting in extreme emotional and financial hardship being placed on families. Without a will in place, you risk negatively affecting those you love the most at a time when they are already suffering.  Your will is your last opportunity to tell your loved ones what your preferences are and to wde them when you are not physically here to do so. Having a will ensures that your last wishes are enforced and this can have a lasting impact on your family once you are gone. Not preparing a will may result in your estate being distributed to members of your family who may well not be your preferred inheritor.

The process of probate is the legal process which occurs when a person passes and is how your estate is legally assessed. Probate Guildford attorneys at Lodge Brothers offer probate services which assist individuals with preparing for their end of life. Contacting Probate Ashford attorneys empowers you to finalise all aspects of your life, the way in which you would choose allowing you to have your final choices carried out as you would have done if you were still able. Not planning for your estate via your will, you leave much to chance.

If you have not lived your life leaving all matters to chance, why let it be the case in your demise. No other individual truly knows your wishes and desires so when you pass away without a will, you effectively leave your estate to be governed by the laws of intestacy meaning that everything that you have accrued in your life is now governed by a set of rules enforced by the courts. These rules prioritise married or civil partners and close relatives inheriting your estate under the laws of intestacy which means that the courts may assign your possessions to someone who you had never intended them for.

Lodge Brothers legal attorneys specialise exclusively in Probate, Wills and Power of Attorney. Probate Feltham is the process which confirms who will handle a person’s estate after their death and it is important to have as it is a legal requirement. Probate is a complicated system which is best handled by a competent probate attorney. Aspects of the probate Ashford process include, establishing the value of your assets and liabilities, finalising Inheritance Tax, applying for Probate Registry for the Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration. Lodge Brothers offer caring and practical legal advice efficiently and professionally to make your life easier during distressing times.

Lodge Brothers Legal Services | Probate Assistance in time of Need

The passing of a loved one can change your world in an instant. In one moment, everything is as it should be, and then within a heartbeat, it can all come crashing down. Sometimes we are prepared for the passing of our loved one in that we know it is coming but it does not take away the impact of that final moment when it actually happens. No matter how mentally prepared you may be, especially when a person has an illness for an extended period, there is always that sense of hope that things will be ok. When that call comes and hope dissolves, you need a support structure in place to help you navigate the unknown road ahead.

Video about Lodge Legal

Grieving loved ones, are advised to include, in their support system, a probate legal expert.

When it comes to the legalities associated with the end of life, Lodge Brothers Legal Services Probate Sunbury knows what is needed to the executor of an estate is responsible for the Probate West Byfleet process which authenticates a last will and testament of the deceased person.

Should the deceased have a will in place, Lodge Brothers Legal Services have the training and expertise required to facilitate the court-administered legal process of Probate Feltham . Even more importantly, when an individual does not have a last will and testament, the process can become significantly more difficult. While families deal with the immense emotional grief which they must face when their loved one passes, Lodge Brothers Legal Services solicitors take care of the legal logistics.

There are 4 steps to the probate process. Firstly, the will, should there be one, has to be proved for authenticity. This is required to make sure that the Will is the most valid and latest version. In order for this to happen, a case is filed at the court. Once the court has validated the Will, the court will be in contact with the relevant beneficiaries and creditors. Before the beneficiaries can inherit assess indicated in the Will, creditors will need to be paid. Thus clearing all debts and outstanding taxes, so that the court can process the remaining assets as stipulated by the Will. At this stage there may be objections raised either as a result of complicated family dynamics or resulting from the process whereby all debts were settled. Should the debts out-weigh the assets, beneficiaries would not be advised and this may cause financial and emotions stress for the family. Should the estate be unaffected by the debtors payments, an inventory of the properties and other assets such as jewellery, furniture and other possessions. The assessment covers everything from bank accounts affected by joint-tenancy with rights of survivorship, to distinguishing between probate or non-probate assets and properties.

At the end of the Probate West Byfleet process the assets will be distributed according to the instructions found within the Will. The process of executing Probate Walton and closing an estate can be a long and difficult one and your Lodge Brothers Legal Services attorney will be available for consultation until such time as all details are legally finalised.

 

 

Speak to Lodge Brothers Regarding Grant of Probate or the Grant of Letters of Administration

Lodge Brothers Legal Services Fees Image

A lasting power of attorney document serves as a legal instruction which allows you, the donor, to appoint someone, generally an attorney who has expertise and is permitted to provide legal advice, for the purpose of making decisions on your behalf when you are not able to, for instance should you become mentally or medically incapacitated. Lodge Brothers attorneys specialise in providing the Lasting Power of Attorney Guildford service and can direct you in setting up this legal document. There are 2 types of lasting power of attorney; one for health and welfare and the other for property and financial affairs and a donor has the choice to make use of either, or both types.

The first step to appoint your Lodge Brothers attorney who will provide you with the relevant paperwork to complete and advice you regarding the 2 types of lasting power of attorney Ashford which is available and what they cover. For example the Health and welfare power of attorney covers decisions pertaining to your daily care and lifestyle routines, medical care options, care home options and aspects relating to life-sustaining treatment such as which heroic measures or extraordinary procedures that you wish therapists to do in order to either save or extend your life when you are unable to provide instruction. All aspects relating these aspects are very personal and can make a monumental difference not only to your life, but the lives of your family members which is why engaging with a attorney for this purpose will simply the process and ensure that your choices are safeguarded.

Lodge Brothers Legal Services Fees Image

When it comes to property and financial affairs, the Lasting power of attorney Feltham will guide decisions relating to aspects of your bank, building society, account payments, benefit collection and the selling or distribution of your home and assets, allowing you to have the final say as to how these aspects should be managed. This, in conjunction with your last will and testament will ensure that your decisions about your estate and finances are executed legally and with no contest, before your departure, if you are no longer mentally or medically able to refer.

Once you have fully consulted with Lodge Brothers in terms of your options, the paperwork will be completed and lodged with the Office of the Public Guardian which can take to 20 weeks to be finalised, for which there is a nominal cost of (as per gov.uk in 2022) £82.

If a Lasting power of attorney has not been registered at the point at which mental capacity is lost, a deputy will be appointed by the Court of Protection, however this complicated and costly process does not ensure that your personal wishes are met, however all legal aspects relating to a person’s care and well-being will be considered on an on-going basis, as required. The family will not be able to provide input as to what personal care should be or what decisions should be made regarding your finances. This can leave the family in a vulnerable position in the long run.

We can advise on making LPA’s, prepare the documents and deal with registration at the Office of the Public Guardian (“OPG”).

Contact Lodge Brothers Lasting power of attorney Woking and Lodge Brothers Lasting power of attorney Weybridge to speak to us and find out how we can assist you.