Wills & Probate

Secure your family's future

Talk to our team at John Ross & Son Solicitors to tackle the complex
issue or making your will. We are based in Newtownards and offer a range of services in wills and probate law.
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Here's how we can help you

Wills and Estate Planning

Making a will is very important to ease the burden on family and friends left behind you. It also lets you decide who benefits when you die. If you die without a will, the law of intestacy will determine who's entitled to your estate - which may not be who you want.  So we would strongly encourage you to ensure that you make a will and you should not feel intimidated by the process.

We can prepare your will for you and provide specialist advice on estate planning - how to dispose of your assets in the most tax efficient manner in order to reduce or prevent inheritance tax being payable on your death.

When you give us instructions for your will it is helpful if you can provide us with:
a) Approximate details of your assets to include life policies and pensions payable on death.
b) Details of any bequests to include specific sums of money or assets and details of the main beneficiaries to your will and substitute beneficiaries, should one of your beneficiaries die before you.
c) Names and addresses of two people able and wiling to act as executors and trustees if any beneficiciary is under the age of 18 years.
Will
Probate

Administration of Estates

The death of a loved one can be an exceptionally difficult time.  We provide caring assistance and guidance throughout the process.

We can advise the Executors in relation to their responsibilities to carry out the will instructions of the person who has died.  Administration of an estate can include gathering and obtaining valuations of the assets and liaiblities of the estate.  It can include dealing with inheritance tax issues, obtaining a Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration, realising the assets of an estate, identifying and dealing with any debts and distributing the remaining assets amongst the beneficiaries. 

We can also help where there is no will, (intestacy) or where wills and trusts are disputed.
 Enduring Powers of Attorney
 An Enduring Power of Attorney ensure that someone of your choosing manages your affairs should the need arise in the future.  Future management of affairs is an area of increasing concern for our clients and we strongly recommend that you have this document in place alongside your will, no matter what age you are.  Such a power can be used in the event of accident or illness rendering you mentally incapable of looking after your own affairs, either for a temporary period, or over the long term.
Mental Incapacity, Controllership and the Office of Care and Protection
 John Ross and Son regularly advises families on issues of capacity both in relation to ability to make a will and also in relation to the management of financial affairs should a client have been deemed to have lost capacity.  , If a person is or is becoming mentally incapacitated and doesn't have an Enduring Power of Attorney, you can apply to the High Court, to the Office of Care and Protection to manage their financial affairs on their behalf. We can advise you on this.

In some circumstances the Court can make a statutory will where a client is deemed to have lost testamentary capacity and we can advise in relation to that issue should the need arise.

Why choose us?

    We can also involve specialists such as accountants, estate agents and valuers when required. We provide advice in areas including wills, administration of estates, disputes about estates, office of care and protection matters including:

    • Controllerships
    • Enduring Powers of Attorney
    • Nursing Care
    • Taxation
    • Estate Planning

    Need advice on wills and probate law? Contact John Ross & Son Solicitors, Newtownards on
    028 9181 3173
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