Much of Coventry's housing went up in a hurry, in the decades either side of the war, and those semis in Coundon, Radford, Cheylesmore and Wyken are now passing from the generation that bought them to the one that grew up in them. Whether that happens smoothly depends on a document many of the owners never got round to: a will. Without one, the intestacy rules decide who inherits, and they give nothing to an unmarried partner or a stepchild, however long they shared the house.
A will solicitor in Coventry will start with the house and the family, then widen the conversation. Who looks after young children? Should a surviving partner have the right to stay in the home for life, with the capital protected for children from an earlier relationship? Does a grandchild with a disability need a trust that will not affect their benefits? Is there a business, a workshop or a taxi licence that someone must be able to carry on? Does the family own land in Punjab or a flat in Poland that needs a separate will there?
Lasting powers of attorney are the other half of the job, one for finances and one for health and care decisions, so that a trusted person can act if illness or dementia makes it impossible to decide for yourself; without them the family has to apply to the Court of Protection, which takes months.
After a death the same firms handle probate: valuing the estate, dealing with HMRC, obtaining the grant and paying out the beneficiaries. Executors can do it themselves for a simple estate, but anyone handling property, a business or a family quarrel is usually glad of help, and the executor carries personal liability for mistakes.
Most Coventry firms charge fixed fees for wills and powers of attorney and either a fixed or hourly fee for probate; ask which before you instruct.
Wills and probate firms for Coventry are listed below with verified firms first. Our guides explain wills, trusts and probate, how much a will costs, probate costs and lasting powers of attorney; see also our page on will solicitors.
