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.

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

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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.

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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.

Lodge Brothers Your Trusted Probate Solicitors

Probate is the lawful process that takes place after someone dies which facilitates the distribution of their assets and settlement of their debts. When an individual dies, their property and assets (referred to as their estate) are left behind. Probate is the legal process used to identify, value and finally distribute the assets of the deceased person’s estate, in accordance with the deceased person’s Will (should there be one). While it is possible to handle probate without an attorney, it can be a complex and time-consuming process.

The probate process starts when an executor or personal representative named in the will files a petition with the court initiating the process. If there is no will and no legal attorney to appointed to represent the deceased and their estate, the court will appoint an administrator to manage the estate.

During the probate process, the court will verify the validity of the will (if there is one), identify and catalogue the deceased person’s assets, firstly paying any debts and taxes owed by the estate and then distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries named in the will or, according to the law.

Probate can be a time-consuming and complex process, especially if the deceased person had a substantial or complicated estate. It is therefore highly recommended to work with an attorney who specialises in probate Sunbury to help navigate the process and ensure that everything is handled properly.

In some cases, probate Shepperton can be straightforward and simple, for example, if the estate is small, with few assets and a clear distribution plan, probate may be handled by the executor. However, if the estate is intricate, with significant assets, debts, or tax matters, or if there are disputes among heirs or beneficiaries, it is advisable to work with Lodge Legal Probate attorneys, who specialise in probate Walton and can assist with the navigation of the process. Working with an experienced probate West Byfleet attorney can help to ensure that everything is handled properly and that the estate is settled in a timely and efficient manner.

Lodge Legal solicitors will help you with the legal requirements of probate, including filing the necessary paperwork, complying with deadlines, requirements and communicating with the court and other parties involved in the process. They can also provide guidance on the distribution of assets and help to resolve any disputes that may arise.

It’s also a good idea to start thinking about making these arrangements once you reach the age of 18 years old. At this age, you may want to consider creating a will and designating beneficiaries for your assets, as well as selecting a person or persons to act as your executor, who will manage your estate after your death. It’s important to keep in mind that these arrangements are not set in stone and can be updated as your circumstances change. It’s always a good idea to consult with Lodge Brothers Legal attorneys to help you create a plan that suits your needs and goals.

Contact us if you require help with probate, wills or lasting powers of attorney

Lodge Brothers Legal services is a team of dedicated attorneys who specialise in assisting with Lasting Power of attorney, Wills and Probate services. Inspired by personal attention Lodge Brother Legal aims to provide practical and caring services to all who reach out to them in their time of need.

Where a person is taking the proactive approach to their end-of-life management, or planning ahead for the protection of their families, they can be assured that they will have all of their questions answered and be provided with answers to questions that they didn’t know they had yet.

A probate Guildford process is one which deals with the administrative side of a person’s estate once they are deceased. This is something that most people will need however which few are aware of. Reaching out to an attorney to assist you with the process is the fastest and most accurate way of making sure that all T’s are crossed, and I’s are dotted. The probate Ashford process is approved by the Probate Registry which must take place before the process can proceed. There are 2 types of probate Feltham processes which is dependant on whether or not the deceased person has left a valid Will, or not. As long as there is a valid Will, the Grant of Probate will be required if there is an executor of the estate. This is where it is beneficial to have consulted with Lodge Brother Legal attorneys in preparation of this time, as they will ensure that the Will is valid and they will then be able to be nominated as executor of your probate process, keeping it simple and in the right hands.

Should a person die without a Will or the Will is found or be legally invalid, the Probate Registry will need to provide a Grant of Letters of Administration. When a person passes under these circumstances, the person is deemed to have died intestate and the administration of their Will will fall to the legal system to establish the most correct way to administer the estate of the deceased. It is highly advisable for a person to have their Will drawn up by professional attorneys who will ensure that there are no loopholes which may raise questions as to the validity of their Will. Those who are caught short in this area may leave their estate in the hands of the courts and as such, may result in intended recipients of the estate to lose out on what you intended to provide for them after your death.

A lasting power of attorney will assist in situations where, should you fall victim to a situation which may render you powerless to speak for yourself and advise what you would like to happen in the event of your death, whether you would like to be considered an organ donor, whether you would like heroic actions in the event of resuscitation and general provide guidance as to how you would like to be treated medically should you not be of sound mind to do so on your own behalf.