Kreston Solicitors provides wills, probate, and estate planning services from its Enfield office at 44 London Road, Middlesex. The firm helps clients write and update wills, apply for grants of probate, administer estates, plan for inheritance tax, and set up Lasting Powers of Attorney, acting for clients across Enfield, North London, and Greater London.
Will Writing and Will Reviews
A will is a legal document setting out how a person’s money, property, and possessions (their “estate”) should be distributed after death, and who should look after any children under 18. Without a valid will, an estate is distributed under fixed intestacy rules which may not reflect what the deceased would have wanted, and can exclude unmarried partners entirely.
Kreston Solicitors helps clients with:
- Drafting new wills, from simple estates to complex family and business situations
- Reviewing and updating existing wills after marriage, divorce, or a new child
- Wills for blended families, unmarried couples, and business owners
- Appointing executors and guardians for minor children
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document allowing someone to appoint one or more trusted people (attorneys) to make decisions on their behalf if they lose mental capacity in future. There are two types in England and Wales: a Property and Financial Affairs LPA (managing bank accounts, bills, and property) and a Health and Welfare LPA (medical treatment and care decisions).
Our solicitors advise on:
- Preparing and registering both types of LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian
- Choosing attorneys and setting restrictions or guidance for them
- Acting where a loved one has lost capacity without an LPA in place (deputyship applications)
Probate and Estate Administration
Probate is the legal process of dealing with a deceased person’s estate, proving the will is valid (or, if there’s no will, applying for letters of administration), collecting assets, paying debts and any inheritance tax due, and distributing what remains to beneficiaries. A grant of probate is the official document confirming the executor’s authority to act.
We support executors and administrators with:
- Applying for a grant of probate or letters of administration
- Valuing and collecting estate assets, including property and investments
- Paying inheritance tax and liaising with HMRC
- Distributing the estate to beneficiaries and finalising estate accounts
- Handling estates with property, foreign assets, or business interests
Intestacy - When There's No Will
Intestacy rules are the fixed legal formula used to divide an estate when someone dies without a valid will. In England and Wales, these rules prioritise spouses/civil partners and children, in a set order unmarried partners, stepchildren, and close friends receive nothing under intestacy no matter how close the relationship was in practice.
We advise families dealing with intestate estates on:
- Establishing who's legally entitled to inherit
- Applying for letters of administration
- Deed of variation, where beneficiaries agree to redirect their inheritance
Inheritance Tax Planning
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a UK tax charged on the value of an estate above the tax-free threshold (the “nil-rate band”) when someone dies, currently charged at 40% on the portion above the threshold, subject to various reliefs and exemptions (such as the residence nil-rate band for a main home passed to direct descendants).
We help clients plan ahead through:
- Wills structured to make efficient use of available reliefs and allowances
- Lifetime gifting strategies
- Advice for business and agricultural property owners on relevant reliefs
- Trusts for tax planning and asset protection
Contested Wills and Probate Disputes
A contested probate or contentious probate matter arises where someone challenges the validity of a will (for example, on grounds of undue influence, lack of mental capacity, or improper execution) or brings a claim for reasonable financial provision from an estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
We advise both those bringing and those defending such claims, including:
- Will validity challenges
- Claims by dependants left out of a will or intestacy
- Disputes between executors or beneficiaries
- Removal or replacement of executors
Why Choose Kreston Solicitors?
Clients choose Kreston Solicitors because we offer:
- Bilingual team (English & Turkish) supporting Enfield's diverse community
- Experience with both simple and high-value, complex estates
- Straightforward, jargon-free advice at a difficult time
- Help avoiding common errors that delay probate or increase tax liability
- A dedicated, named point of contact for your case
Talk to a wills and probate solicitor in Enfield.
Call 020 3793 0862 or [email protected] for confidential advice on your will, estate, or a loved one’s probate. Kreston Solicitors, 44 London Road, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 6EF.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Costs depend on complexity a simple single will costs less than a will involving trusts, business assets, or a blended family. Kreston Solicitors offers fixed-fee options for straightforward wills, with tailored quotes for more complex estate planning. Contact the Enfield office for a specific quote.
Your estate is distributed according to intestacy rules, which follow a fixed legal order prioritising spouses/civil partners and children. Unmarried partners and stepchildren are not automatically entitled to inherit under intestacy, regardless of the relationship, which is one of the main reasons solicitors recommend making a will.
Straightforward estates in England and Wales typically take around 6 to 12 months from death to full estate distribution, though obtaining the grant of probate itself can take several months depending on HM Courts & Tribunals Service processing times. Complex, contested, or high-value estates can take considerably longer.
No, executors can apply for probate themselves, but a solicitor is commonly used for estates involving property, inheritance tax, foreign assets, business interests, or any dispute between beneficiaries, since executors can be personally liable for mistakes in estate administration.
A will takes effect after death and sets out how an estate is distributed. A Lasting Power of Attorney takes effect during a person’s lifetime, allowing a chosen attorney to make financial or health decisions if that person loses mental capacity.
No. Inheritance tax is only due on the portion of an estate above the available tax-free threshold (nil-rate band), and various reliefs (including transfers between spouses and the residence nil-rate band) can reduce or remove the liability entirely. Many estates in the UK pay no inheritance tax.
Yes. A will can be challenged on grounds such as lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, or improper execution, and dependants who feel they haven’t received reasonable financial provision can bring a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.