Ace Counsel
A solicitor's study in London with a neatly arranged will, reading glasses and a wooden desk

Private client

Wills, probate, trusts and inheritance in London

Plan for changing family circumstances, arrange authority for future decisions, or get practical help administering an estate.

Arrange a discussion

Call +44 7700 078234

Keep it current.

A signed will and witness details laid beside a fountain pen on a home office desk

Plan ahead

Wills and inheritance planning

A will can name guardians for young children and set out how their inheritance is managed while they are minors. It can also give an unmarried partner clearer provision than the rules that apply when someone dies without a will.

For owner-managers, succession plans and business property relief may need careful consideration alongside the will. We can help you review existing documents and arrange secure storage.

Review matters. Arrange a wills appointment.

A family discussing lasting power of attorney papers with a legal adviser at a bright London office table

Plan for decisions

Lasting powers of attorney

A lasting power of attorney lets people you trust make specified decisions if you cannot make them yourself. The right arrangement depends on the decisions you want covered and the people you choose.

Property and financial affairs

Appointed attorneys can manage financial matters within the authority you grant, such as paying bills or dealing with property. You can name replacement attorneys and set preferences or instructions.

Health and welfare

This authority covers specified health and care decisions and can only be used when you lack capacity to make the particular decision. A certificate provider confirms that you understand the arrangement and are making it voluntarily.

Choose with care. Registration timing and capacity concerns can affect the next steps, so raise them early.

An executor's organised estate file with correspondence and property papers on a London office desk

Administer an estate

Probate and estate administration

Executors and administrators often need help with a grant of probate or letters of administration before assets can be collected and distributed. We can support London estate administration, including estate accounts, or assist with a defined part of the process.

  • Identify assets, liabilities and the documents needed.
  • Prepare the grant application and relevant inheritance tax information.
  • Coordinate asset collection and property sale arrangements.
  • Prepare estate accounts before distribution to beneficiaries.

Clear records help. We can explain which tasks remain with you and which we can handle.

Trust documents being compared side by side at a quiet desk, with notes for beneficiary arrangements

Manage assets

Trusts for families and beneficiaries

A trust may help manage assets for a child or a vulnerable adult, with terms shaped around the beneficiary and the people responsible for administering it. We advise on setting up a trust and on the practical duties involved in managing one.

Trustee responsibilities need attention over time. Get advice early.

Two versions of an estate document compared with handwritten notes during an inheritance dispute review

Resolve concerns

Inheritance disputes and contentious probate

A will may be challenged over questions such as undue influence or whether the person making it had capacity. Beneficiaries may also have concerns about how an estate is being administered or distributed.

We can assess the documents, identify what evidence may be relevant and explain possible next steps. Time limits can apply, so seek advice promptly.

Deadlines depend on the type of claim and the circumstances. For related dispute work, see claims and disputes.

A solicitor preparing an estate enquiry beside a closed file and notepad in a calm London meeting room

Get in touch

Arrange a wills or probate discussion

Tell us whether you are planning ahead, administering an estate or dealing with a dispute. Tell us what you need.