Practice area
Private clients and succession
Wills, powers of attorney, trusts and estate administration for families and for the owners of family businesses.
Who calls us about this
Individuals and families planning for the future, and executors dealing with an estate.
Private client work is quiet and personal. Most of it is done before anything goes wrong: a will that is clear, an attorney who is trusted, a business that will outlive its founder.
We see the same pattern in many families: the documents exist but nobody remembers where, or they no longer reflect reality. Our work is to make sure that when your family needs them, they are clear, current and easy to find.
01What we handle
- Wills and lifetime planning
- Lasting powers of attorney
- Trusts for families and for vulnerable beneficiaries
- Estate administration and probate
- Succession planning for family businesses
- Advice on gifts, property ownership and disputes between relatives
02Typical matters
Described in general terms. Details are changed and no client is identifiable.
A will for a blended family
Drafted wills for a couple with children from earlier relationships, using a trust to provide for the surviving partner while protecting each side's children.
Succession in a family workshop
Planned the handover of a family business across two generations, with a share structure that gave the next generation control without leaving the retiring owner without income.
Estate administration after a sudden death
Guided executors through probate, property sale and distribution over fourteen months, with a monthly note setting out what had been done and what remained.
Powers of attorney for an ageing parent
Put arrangements in place while capacity was clear, and explained them in a family meeting so no one was surprised later.
03How we work
A conversation, not a form
We begin with your family, property and wishes, in an unhurried meeting at either office, or at your home when necessary.
A draft in plain language
Documents are drafted to be understood, and accompanied by a short letter explaining what each provision does.
Sign and store
We supervise signing and keep originals safely, with a record of where they are.
Review at life events
We write to you every few years and after major events such as a marriage, birth or sale of a business.
04Our approach to fees
Wills and powers of attorney are fixed fees, quoted before we meet. Estate administration is billed either on a fixed fee for a defined estate or by the hour against an estimate, which we review with the executors every quarter.
05Questions we hear
How often should a will be reviewed?
Every few years, and whenever something significant changes: marriage, divorce, a birth, a death in the family, a house purchase or the sale of a business.
Who should be an executor?
Someone you trust to be organised, fair and willing, and ideally not much older than you. Many families name one family member and one professional or friend, to share the load and reduce disagreement.
General information only; the answer in your case depends on the documents and the jurisdiction.
06The team
07Related insights
-
Choosing an executor: the questions families skip
The person you name as executor will carry your estate for a year or more. A few questions that make the choice easier.
Clara Whitfield 5 min read Private clients and succession
Talk to the private clients and succession team.
Matter, a few lines of detail, how to reach you. We check for conflicts and reply within one business day. The first conversation, up to thirty minutes, is free.
Sending a request does not create an attorney-client relationship.