Osbornes Wills, Probate & Disputed Estates team focus on the efficient management and administration of estates ensuring they are handled sensitively and swiftly.

When someone dies, the executors of the Will, or their next of kin where there is no Will, have significant duties and responsibilities and need to make some important decisions at a very difficult time.

Our specialist team focuses on taking the burden away from the deceased's personal representatives as the circumstances require by providing expert advice and guidance.   We will  ensure the deceased's affairs are

• wound up
• assets transferred or sold as required and
• the beneficiaries receive their entitlement without delay.  

We offer all our clients fast expert advice whether the deceased died having made a Will or not. If there is no Will the rules of succession to property and other assets are determined by the Intestacy Rules.  We will advise on their effect which often is to create a statutory trust where the deceased leaves children and a surviving spouse.  In these circumstances it may be necessary to trace distant or long lost family members and we can make the necessary arrangements.

On our clients behalf we will complete the appropriate Inland Revenue forms, which are now required for all estates, and all other papers necessary to obtain the Grant of Representation to enable the deceased's assets to be released and distributed to the beneficiaries either in accordance with the Will or under the Intestacy Rules.

Where the deceased did not consider tax planning before death it is possible to vary the Will or the effect of intestacy and thereby create substantial tax savings.  We focus on the enhancement of clients' assets by advising on estate and succession planning and will advise executors and beneficiaries on possible variation of estates where appropriate.