Ashley Wilson - Wills, Trusts & Probate

Wills, Trusts and Probate

A Last Will & Testament is is probably the most important document you are ever likely to sign. It is paramount that the document has been drafted correctly and you receive the appropriate inheritance tax planning advice if you wish to protect your loved ones at the time of your death by benefiting them with your assets, whether those are situated in the UK or abroad.

A correctly drawn Will may save your Executors and Beneficiaries a substantial amount of Inheritance Tax. Whether your needs are simple, such as leaving your entire estate to your spouse or civil partner, or more complex, for example involving trusts for children, we are able to advise you upon a range of options.

We use our specialist legal knowledge to draft a Will that is clear and most importantly, tax efficient. We stress the importance of reviewing your Will on a regular basis to take into account a change in the law, or your financial and family circumstances.

Document Downloads

Making a Will

STEP Information

Inheritance Tax

Executor's Factsheet

Probate Fee Estimate Scale

Guardians

If you have young children you should consider appointing guardians to take care of them if you die while they are still young. The appointment of guardians can be a component part of your Will and we always recommend that it is discussed with the nominated guardian beforehand.

Trusts

There are many reasons that you may wish to set up a Trust for your assets and many important considerations when doing so to ensure how it will be controlled and administered. You might wish to set up a Trust during your lifetime or for one to be established upon your death.

Trusts are governed by complex legal regulations and specific tax regulations. Our team of experienced solicitors can discuss the options available to you and ensure that the correct solution is employed.

Inheritance Tax Planning (IHT)

A complex area of tax law and an intrinsic aspect of Last Wills & Testaments requires an indepth understanding of the various facets of the regulations. The team at AWS can advise you on all aspects of inheritance tax issues arising in connection with Wills, Estate Planning, Trusts and Administering an Estate. This area extends to income tax and capital gains tax considerations and we are able to refer you to appropriate financial specialists in complex or urgent circumstances.

Probate

Where an individual has made a Will, it will usually indicate who will be responsible for administering the Estate: the Executor. On the other hand, if a person dies without a Will, known as ‘Intestate’, there are special rules as to who has the legal right to administer the Estate and benefit from it.

We are able to provide you with clear and straightforward advice and we aim to make the whole experience as stress-free as possible. We will assist you so that the Estate is administered efficiently and quickly, with the understanding that no Executor will wish for the administration period to last for any extended period of time.

If a person has died without a Will, we have the relevant experience in handling the complex intestacy provisions that govern the administration of the Estate.

Our Wills, Trusts and Probate Specialists

Tony Wilson

Margot Fisher

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Legal Updates

Government Publishes Roadmap for Implementing the Renters’ Rights Act 2025

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has now published its much-anticipated roadmap for implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (‘The Act’), confirming how – and when – the biggest reform of residential tenancy law in a generation will take effect.

The changes – such as the abolition of section 21 no-fault evictions and assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) – will be introduced in phases starting in May next year, with significant practical consequences for residential landlords and tenants, managing agents, and investors alike. This article outlines the key changes and implementation dates below.

A covenant to repair is not a covenant to modernise

The Upper Tribunal’s decision in Mountview Estates Plc v W8 Property Ltd [2026] UKUT 196 (LC) provides useful guidance on the condition in which a flat is to be valued when calculating the premium payable for a statutory lease extension.

The case concerned a flat which both parties’ valuers described as “uninhabitable”. The landlord argued that the valuation should nevertheless assume that the flat had been brought up to a clean, modern and readily marketable standard because the lease required the tenant to keep it in “good tenantable repair”.

The Autumn Budget 2025 – What It Means for Property Owners, Landlords and Tenants

The Autumn Budget 2025, announced today by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, has finally clarified several rumoured tax changes to the property market – namely, to council tax, income tax and stamp duty land tax (SDLT). Key changes and potential knock-on effects are outlined below.