E. Rex Makin & Co. Solicitors & Advocates, are a professional firm of solicitors who provide legal services for
business and civil litigation, crime, employment law, family, personal injury, property, public law, wills, probate and trusts.

WILLS, PROBATE & TRUSTS

Please contact our Solicitor, Jennifer McMahon or her secretary Jan Fisher in order to discuss your requirements.

Wills

Many people die without leaving a valid will and this often results in distress and expense to their family which is avoided by making a will. We encourage all adults to make a will.

We are pleased to advise regarding the content and execution of your will. Wills and deeds may be stored at no cost. We advise on the appointment of appropriate executors, trustees and guardians, the formation of trusts, bequests and charitable legacies, tax planning, provision for dependants and other sensitive issues that may arise on death depending upon your circumstances. The cost of a straightforward single will is £100 plus VAT and mirror wills are £150 plus VAT.

Probate and Administration of Estates

We are pleased to act in the administration of estates where the deceased person has left a valid will and in cases where he/she has died without leaving a valid will. We can assist with funeral arrangements, obtaining the Grant of Representation, dealing with Inheritance and Income Tax issues, collection of assets and payment of liabilities, preparation of accounts and distribution to beneficiaries.

Trusts (Including Charitable Trusts) and Tax Planning

We undertake work on lifetime tax planning, the creation and administration of personal and charitable trusts, and the duties and powers of trustees.

Lasting Powers of Attorney

We are able to help with the two types of Lasting Powers of Attorney (‘LPA’). The Property and Affairs LPA allows an attorney to help both before and after loss of mental capacity. The Personal Welfare LPA is only effective on loss of capacity and it gives guidance on wishes in relation to welfare and medical issues and is a form of ‘Living Will’.

Court of Protection

We advise in relation to Court of Protection matters relating to the protection of persons who lack mental capacity including the appointment of deputies and administration of the estate.

Disputes and Litigation

The litigation team is experienced in dealing with all contentious matters including claims under the Inheritance Act.

As a traditional firm of solicitors, the wills, probate and trusts department has been central to E. Rex Makin & Co throughout its 60 year history. During that time we have built up a wealth of experience in dealing with all aspects of this area of law. We have acted for clients whose circumstances vary widely and are used to dealing with instructions that are out of the ordinary.

You may have read articles in the national press regarding the appointment of professional executors and charges made in respect of the administration of an estate.

These are serious matters of grave concern and we wish to respond as follows - the cases highlighted relate to the appointment of unadmitted will writers and bank officials as executors and not to the appointment of solicitors. The charges to actually administer the estate apply after the date of death which may be many years after the Will has been signed, meaning that it would be impractical and unrealistic to provide an accurate costs estimate at the time of signing the Will.

At E Rex Makin we are pleased to discuss the appointment of partners as executors of the estate. Your choice of executors depends upon a number of factors including the complexity of the estate and your family circumstances. We believe that it is important to respect your wishes regarding the appointment of executors. When you make your Will, you will have considered all the circumstances of your situation and only after careful thought reached a decision about who you wish to administer your estate.

After death and throughout the administration of the estate we aim to provide an efficient and cost effective service. We will discuss with the beneficiaries any reasonable steps which may be taken in order to reduce the costs charged to the estate, thereby safeguarding and maximising the gifts contained in your Will. We are happy to discuss costs and we provide full estimates when we accept instructions to administer the estate.

These are serious issues and please contact Jennifer McMahon to discuss any queries regarding these matters. We look forward to hearing from you.

E-Mail our Wills, Probate & Trusts Department

E. Rex Makin and Co.
Solicitors & Advocates

Senior Partner:
Prof. E. Rex Makin, D.Litt L.L.M
Managing Partner:
Robin S.G.Makin, L.L.B.
Solicitor-Advocate (All Higher Courts)
Martin W. Green,
Solicitor-Advocate (All Higher Courts)
Gillian Scales, L.L.B
(Children's Panel Member)
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
SRA Number: 58359