Wills, Trusts & Estates

Leading wills, trusts, and estates solicitors in London. We provide expert will writing services, trust and estate planning, and specialist advice for foreign wills and contentious probate.

Our expertise in wills, trusts & estates related services

The Wills, Trusts, and Estates department at Anthony Gold manages the structuring, administration, and dispute resolution of private estates. We provide legal frameworks for individuals managing UK assets, spanning initial documentation to post-death administration.

Wills, trusts & tax services

At Anthony Gold Solicitors, we understand that planning your estate can be emotional and complex. That’s why our team is dedicated to offering expert guidance, ensuring every decision you make is informed, personalised, and effective. Here’s how we can help:

Will writing and estate structuring

A valid will dictates the distribution of an estate. We provide comprehensive will writing services to document asset distribution and appoint executors. Operating as a premier will writing service in London, we also draft codicils for existing wills and establish trusts. Our trust and estate planning services address the management of complex and high-value assets, incorporating permanent residence status to structure UK tax liabilities accurately.

Learn more about our Will writing service

Arranging Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

Preparing for the unexpected is an act of care for your loved ones. An LPA allows you to name trusted individuals to manage your financial, property, or health decisions if you lose capacity. Our solicitors handle every aspect of the process, from explaining the legal requirements to registering the document with the Office of the Public Guardian. With us, you can ensure your wishes are respected.

Learn more about Arranging Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

Applying for probate and estate administration

Following a death, executors require legal authority to administer the estate. Our probate solicitors process applications for grants of probate and letters of administration. This includes valuing the estate, calculating inheritance tax based on UK and worldwide assets, and distributing funds to beneficiaries. We also execute foreign will probate for non-UK residents who hold taxable assets within England and Wales.

Learn more about Applying for Probate

Expert guidance for estate distribution

Distributing an estate involves balancing many responsibilities: collecting assets, settling debts, and ensuring the rightful beneficiaries receive their inheritance. This can become even more complex when disputes or insolvency issues arise. Our solicitors provide clear, pragmatic advice and expert support to help you navigate these challenges smoothly.

Learn more about Estate Distribution

Trust advice

Trusts are invaluable tools for protecting wealth, providing for loved ones, and planning for the future. Whether you’re considering setting up a discretionary trust, life interest trust, or a trust for a vulnerable beneficiary, we can help. Our solicitors ensure your trust achieves your goals while complying with all legal and tax obligations.

Learn more about Trust Advice

Administering trusts

Being a trustee comes with significant responsibilities, from managing investments to ensuring compliance with trust laws. Our solicitors work closely with trustees to ensure all duties are fulfilled efficiently, protecting both the trust and its beneficiaries. Let us take the administrative burden off your hands.

Learn more about Administering Trusts

Inheritance tax planning & advice

Inheritance tax can erode the wealth you’ve worked hard to build for your family. Our tax planning specialists help you make the most of available reliefs and exemptions, ensuring more of your assets go to your loved ones. We also provide advice on lifetime gifting and other strategies to reduce tax liabilities.

Learn more about Our Inheritance Tax Planning Services

Making an Islamic will

An Islamic will is essential for ensuring your estate is distributed in accordance with your faith and the principles of Sharia law. Our solicitors are experienced in creating wills that meet both legal and religious requirements, offering clarity and reassurance to you and your family.

Learn more about Making an Islamic Will

Claims against trusts & estates

Disputes over trusts and estates can be emotionally draining, especially during times of grief. At Anthony Gold Solicitors, we provide clear, compassionate legal support to help you resolve these challenges and protect your rights. Here’s how we can assist:

Removal of trustees & executors

If you’re dissatisfied with the way a trustee or personal representative is managing a trust or estate, you have the right to challenge their role. Whether it’s through negotiation or applying to the court, we help you seek their removal and the appointment of a replacement. Our focus is always on protecting the integrity of the trust or estate and ensuring beneficiaries’ rights are upheld.

Explore our services for removing trustees and executors.

Contesting a will

If the validity of a will is challenged or an executor fails to distribute assets correctly, legal intervention is required. Our contentious probate solicitors manage claims regarding testamentary capacity, undue influence, and the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Learn more about Contesting a Will

Losses caused by trustees

Trustees have a legal duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries, but sadly, mismanagement of trust funds can happen. When losses occur due to a trustee’s negligence or misconduct, we work with individuals, organisations, and the Official Solicitor to recover what’s been lost. Our solicitors ensure the responsible parties are held accountable.

Learn more about Losses Caused by Trustees

Disputes relating to Powers of Attorney

Claims to remove attorney, recover financial loss from attorney. We help clients take swift, firm legal action when trust has been broken.

Learn more about Disputes relating to Powers of Attorney

Unfair financial provision from an estate

Claims under the inheritance provision 1975 – who’s eligible to bring the claim, what the court looks at, what orders do courts make.

Learn more about Unfair financial provision from an estate

Our Fees

The way we charge for our services depends on what type of legal issue you have. For many transactional services, such as buying or selling a property or making a will, we are able to provide you with an estimate of costs at the outset.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) requires law firms to meet rules on price transparency for certain areas of law. Within our Wills, Trusts and Estates team, we are able to share upfront charges about uncontested probate cases. Please note that the exact cost, however, will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter.

How we charge for uncontested probate cases

We anticipate this will take between 15 and 30 hours work at an average of £300-£330 plus VAT per hour, depending on the complexity of your case and who works on it. Our legal costs are estimated to be between £4,000 and £10,000 +VAT.

 

Additional Costs in Uncontested Probate Cases

 

Additional likely expensesCosts
Probate application fee£300.00
Copies of grant of probate, per copy£16
Bankruptcy Searches, per beneficiary based in the UK£6.00
International Bankruptcy Searches, prices vary depending on country of residence£TBC, typically ranges from £50-£300 plus VAT
Post in The London Gazette (s27 Notice) and a local newspaper – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors£200 -£400
Will Search, if required.£100-£200
Unclaimed Assets Search, if required.Approx. £200

 

The exact cost, however, will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be at the lower end of the above range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end. We will handle the full process for you.

The legal fees estimate is for estates where:

  • There is a valid will
  • There is no more than one property
  • There are no more than 10 bank or building society accounts
  • There are no shareholdings (stocks and bonds) in the estate
  • There are no other intangible assets
  • There are no more than 10 beneficiaries
  • There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
  • There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC
  • There are no claims made against the estate

 

If your case is more complex than the above example, we can give you a more accurate estimate of these costs once we have more information.

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Wills, Trusts & Estates

Does Marriage or Divorce Affect Your Will?

Join Associate Solicitor Adele Harrison as she explores the pivotal ways marriage and divorce can reshape your estate planning and the validity of your will.

Wills, Trusts & Estates

Islamic Wills in Non-Muslim Majority Countries Like the UK

oin Umar Shaikh, an Associate Solicitor at Anthony Gold Solicitors, as he shares invaluable insights into the significance of Islamic Wills in the UK.

Wills, Trusts & Estates:
Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any exemptions for passing on a family home?

Yes, the residence nil-rate band allows individuals to pass on their main home to direct descendants (children or grandchildren) with an additional tax-free allowance of £175,000. This means a married couple or civil partners could benefit from a combined exemption of up to £1 million. However, if the total estate is valued at over £2 million, the residence nil-rate band is gradually reduced, so careful planning is essential to maximise this relief.

Can a family member acting as a trustee be sued for mismanagement?

Yes, a family member serving as a trustee is held to the same legal standards as any other trustee. If they breach their duties or mismanage the trust, they can be sued to recover losses or rectify improper actions. While it can be a sensitive situation, our solicitors can help you address the issue professionally and protect your interests.

Can a trustee or executor be removed without going to court?

Yes, if the trustee or executor agrees to step down voluntarily or if the trust deed or will allows removal by beneficiaries or a protector. Legal advice can help ensure the process is handled correctly.

Can a trustee or executor resign voluntarily if they feel overwhelmed?

Yes, they can resign using a formal deed, provided the trust or estate administration will not be left incomplete. A replacement must be arranged, often with legal support.

Can an attorney make gifts or donations on my behalf?

Attorneys can make small, reasonable gifts on customary occasions, such as birthdays, but larger gifts or charitable donations require Court of Protection approval. They must always act in your best interests and within their authority.

Can an Islamic Will prevent family disputes over inheritance?

Yes, an Islamic Will reduces disputes by clearly defining asset distribution based on Islamic guidelines. It eliminates ambiguity by specifying shares, guardianship, and obligations, fostering harmony among family members.


A word from our clients

My request (to have a will drawn up) was dealt with quickly and efficiently, and in a friendly manner. Not too expensive either!

Wills, trusts & estates client