Contentious Probate Costs: Indemnity, proportionality and when the court gets involved Probate disputes can be emotionally charged, legally complex, and financially dangerous. Contentious probate costs are the legal fees and related expenses that arise when there is a dispute about a will or the administration of an estate, and they [...]
Solicitor vs Executor vs Beneficiary: Who pays what in a Probate dispute? Handled properly, costs fall exactly where they should — and nowhere else. Probate disputes can appear suddenly — a disagreement over a will, a conflict between executors, or a beneficiary who believes something has gone wrong. But beneath [...]
Estate paying the bill? When legal costs come out of the estate — and when they don’t Sometimes beneficiaries find themselves bearing the cost of a dispute. Most people assume that probate legal fees are simply “paid by the estate”. But that’s not always true. Sometimes the estate pays everything. [...]
When executors must justify their legal fees: a guide to probate costs assessment Executors must ensure the solicitor's fees are reasonable before paying them out of the estate. When a loved one dies, executors are responsible for administering the estate — and most sensibly choose to instruct solicitors to help. [...]
Can probate fees be challenged? How costs assessment works in probate Understanding how costs assessment works can protect executors, reassure beneficiaries, and prevent disagreements later on. Most people assume that probate fees are fixed, inevitable, and unquestionable. But they're not. In fact, probate is one of the few areas of [...]
Mirror Wills vs Joint Wills vs Mutual Wills: what’s right for you? While the different names of these wills sound similar, the legal consequences couldn't be more different. When couples make their wills, they often want something simple, tidy and aligned. But “wills for couples” isn’t a single product — [...]
Updating Your Will: When life events require a review Life changes — and your will should change with it. A will is not something you write once and forget. Life changes — and your will should change with it. Most people don’t realise that major life events can completely alter [...]
Wills: the pros and cons of naming specific assets Leaving specific assets can be deeply meaningful. When writing a will, it can feel natural — even comforting — to name specific things you want particular people to receive. Your house. A piece of jewellery. A sum of money. A treasured [...]
Wills – what is a Discretionary Trust? Discretionary trusts can be both ‘inter vivos’ (during our lifetime), and in our Wills. In simple terms, a discretionary trust in our will leaves the decision making as to who gets what and when to the appointed trustees, rather than us making the [...]
What happened to Nil Rate Band Discretionary Will Trusts? Nil Rate Band will trusts allowed a married couple to capture both nil rate band allowances. Nil rate band discretionary will trusts were a popular tax planning tool for married couples pre-2007. Then (2007) a change in Inheritance Tax (IHT) laws [...]
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