The call that starts a great deal of wills work in Leeds is not about a will at all. It is a daughter in Horsforth ringing because her father in Pudsey has been diagnosed with dementia, has no lasting power of attorney and still owns the house, the savings and a share in a family business. Without an attorney the family must apply to the Court of Protection to manage his affairs, which takes months and costs more than the two powers of attorney would have. A will solicitor in Leeds will usually suggest drafting both at the same time as the will.
The will itself should reflect how people in Leeds actually live. Second marriages are common, and a life interest trust can let a new spouse stay in the house in Moortown while making sure it eventually passes to the children of the first marriage. Unmarried partners inherit nothing under the intestacy rules, however long they have lived together in the flat at Granary Wharf. Parents of young children should name guardians. Owners of businesses, of farmland on the edge of Wetherby, or of buy-to-let terraces in Harehills need advice on how those assets pass and whether inheritance tax reliefs apply. The city's Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities often ask for wills that follow religious rules of inheritance, which can be done within English law.
Probate follows. Executors in Leeds value the estate, report to HMRC, obtain the grant and distribute, and a solicitor can do all of it or just the difficult parts. Fixed fees for a simple will, a pair of mirror wills or a straightforward estate are normal; complex estates are charged hourly or as a percentage of their value.
Wills, trusts and probate solicitors in Leeds are listed under this introduction, verified firms first. Read wills, trusts and probate explained, what a will costs, probate costs, lasting powers of attorney and the guide to will solicitors.
