Cunningtons LLP Solicitors Braintree
Great Square
Braintree
Essex
CM7 1UD
United Kingdom
Tel: 01376 326868
Fax: 01376 550003
Cunningtons: Solicitors in Braintree since 1748
Life brings legal moments – from buying your first home to making your will, from marriage to family changes. Since 1748, Cunningtons LLP has been there for every chapter of our clients’ lives, providing expert legal guidance when it matters most. Based in our historic Great Square offices in Braintree, we’re your trusted legal partners throughout life’s journey.
As one of England’s oldest law firms, we understand that legal needs don’t exist in isolation – they’re part of life’s bigger picture. Whether you’re taking your first steps on the property ladder, planning your family’s future, navigating relationship changes, or protecting what you’ve built, our experienced solicitors in Braintree provide the expert guidance, personal service, and continuity that comes from 275 years of supporting Essex families through every legal milestone.
From our Braintree head office, we serve clients throughout Essex and Suffolk, including Colchester, Ipswich, Halstead, Sudbury, Haverhill, Saffron Walden, Bishop’s Stortford, Long Melford and beyond – always with the same commitment to being your lawyers, for life.
Bryony Wilmshurst: Partner in charge of the Braintree branch
Leading our Braintree office and Private Client services
Bryony embodies what ‘Your Lawyers. For Life.’ means in practice. As Partner in Charge of our Braintree office and head of our Private Client department, she’s guided hundreds of Essex families through multiple life stages – from young couples making their first Wills to established families planning complex inheritance strategies.
Bryony’s experience covers wills, probate, trusts, inheritance tax planning, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and Court of Protection matters. Her approach combines technical excellence with a genuine understanding of what matters to Essex families at different life stages.
Contact Bryony on 01376 326868
Read more about Bryony on her Partner profile page here >>
Legal Guidance Throughout Life’s Journey …
🏠 When You’re Moving House
Your home is more than property – it’s where life happens.
Our conveyancing specialists understand that buying or selling isn’t just a transaction, it’s a major life moment. From first-time buyers taking their initial steps to growing families needing more space, we’ve guided thousands of Essex families through smooth, stress-free property moves.
- Fixed Legal Fees
- Easy Conveyancing Quotes Braintree
- Personal Contact
- Local Branch, No Call Centre
- National Coverage
- Specialist Property Solicitors Since 1748
- Contact by Phone or Email
- Great Reviews
- Expert legal advice
- Award-winning Solicitors
- Conveyancing since 1748
Expert conveyancing services →
👨👩👧👦 When Family Life Changes
Relationships evolve, families grow, and sometimes circumstances change unexpectedly.
Our Braintree-based family law team provides compassionate, practical guidance through marriage planning, divorce proceedings, child arrangements, and financial settlements. We understand that behind every case is a real family navigating important changes.
Family law support →
📜 When You’re Planning Ahead
Protecting your – and your family’s – future is one of life’s most important responsibilities. Our Wills and probate specialists help you plan with confidence – from writing your first Will to complex inheritance tax planning. We make estate planning straightforward, ensuring your wishes are properly documented and your loved ones protected, storing your Wills securely on site.
Wills and estate planning →
⚖️ When Disputes Need Resolution
Life doesn’t always go smoothly, and sometimes disputes arise that need expert legal resolution.
Our civil litigation department, led by Partner Mark Taylor, provides robust representation for individuals and businesses across England and Wales when matters can’t be resolved through negotiation alone.
From our Braintree base, Mark and his team handle the full range of disputes, including contractual disagreements, property disputes, professional negligence claims, probate and inheritance disputes, and employment issues for both employers and employees.
GET IN TOUCH
To contact us about any of our legal services or to get a quotation for our legal fees, just complete this form so we can get back to you.
LEGAL SERVICES AT CUNNINGTONS IN BRAINTREE
Cunningtons LLP solicitors in Braintree offer you a range of legal services, focusing on Property, Wills, Family Law and Civil Litigation.
Residential Conveyancing
At Braintree, we have solicitors who are experts in all aspects of residential property transactions from sale or purchase of both freehold and leasehold properties, re-mortgages, transfers of equity and agreed lease extensions.
Civil Litigation
Cunningtons Civil Litigation service is run by Braintree-based solicitor Mark Taylor. We can guide you through all aspects of litigation including debt, landlord & tenant, Will disputes and professional negligence.
Family Law and Matrimonial
Cunningtons in Braintree also offer a Family & Matrimonial service. We can guide you through all aspects of matrimonial law, including pre-nuptial agreements, divorce, civil partnerships, cohabitation agreements, and childcare arrangements.
Family Law in Braintree >>
Wills and Probate
Cunningtons Will drafting service will help you to understand the forms to be completed and make sure final documents are correctly executed, giving you peace of mind that your affairs will be left in order and avoiding complex intestacy problems.
Braintree Wills and Probate >>
Why Cunningtons Has Been Essex Families’ Choice Since 1748
🏛️ 275 Years of Continuity
Established in 1748 and still operating from our original Great Square premises, we’re one of England’s oldest law firms. This isn’t just heritage – it’s proof of our enduring commitment to being there when local Essex families need us most.
🤝 Personal Relationships, Not Transactions
We believe legal advice should come from people who know you and understand your circumstances. Our clients often work with the same solicitors across multiple life events – buying their first home, making their Will, navigating family changes. That’s what ‘Your Lawyers. For Life.’ really means.
🚶♀️ Accessible When You Need Us
Our walk-in legal advice centre provides immediate guidance for urgent queries, whilst our established appointment system ensures you receive dedicated time when planning important matters.
💷 Transparent, Fixed-Fee Approach
Life’s complicated enough without worrying about legal costs. We provide clear, upfront pricing across all our services – no hidden charges, no nasty surprises, just honest fees you can budget for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that our Braintree branch gets asked: if you need an answer to a question that is not on this list, please contact us for an answer.
When should I make my Will?
You should make your Will as soon as you have anything worth leaving – which is earlier than most people think!
Key life moments like buying your first property, getting married, having children, starting a business, or receiving an inheritance should probably be followed by a revisit of your Will to make sure it still reflects your intentions.
If you die without a valid Will, or ‘intestate’, the law decides who inherits your estate, and this may not reflect your wishes.
As a rule of thumb, if you’d worry about what happens to your possessions, your property, or your dependents if something happened to you tomorrow, it’s time to make your Will.
Do I need a solicitor for my divorce?
While it’s possible to handle straightforward divorces yourself, most people benefit from professional legal advice – especially when there are children, property, or pensions involved.
Talking to a family law solicitor will ensure that your financial settlement is fair, protects your parental rights, and handles any complex legal procedures correctly. We often see people who started DIY divorce proceedings but need legal help when complications arise.
Our Braintree family law team offers initial consultations to help you understand your options and decide the best approach to fit your circumstances.
What’s the difference between local and online legal services?
The biggest difference you’ll find is the relationship. With a local solicitor firm like Cunningtons, you’ll work with the same solicitor who knows your circumstances and can provide proper legal advice tailored to your specific situation.
We’re here when you need us – whether that’s for a quick phone call, or a face-to-face meeting at our Braintree offices. Online services are more impersonal, and often mean speaking to someone different every time you call, and they’ll have limited local knowledge and no ongoing relationship with you.
When you’re dealing with important legal matters like buying a home or looking after your family, personal service and continuity matter.
Do I need to use a solicitor when I’m buying a house?
Legally, no – but practically, yes. Property transactions involve complex legal documents, searches, and regulations that can cost you thousands if handled incorrectly.
A good conveyancing solicitor protects you from legal problems, ensures that all the property is properly yours, handles all the paperwork, makes sure that all fees and taxes are paid correctly, and liaises with mortgage lenders, estate agents, and the other side’s solicitors.
The cost of professional conveyancing is small compared to the value of your property and the potential risks of getting it wrong. We provide fixed-fee conveyancing with no hidden costs – call us for a fast quote.
What legal documents should we all keep available and current?
Everyone should have an up-to-date Will, but there are other important documents to consider depending on where you are in life’s journey.
Essential documents include: a current Will, Lasting Powers of Attorney (for property/finance and health/welfare decisions if you are ever incapacitated), marriage certificates, property deeds, and insurance policies. Parents may need guardianship arrangements for children, whilst business owners should have partnership agreements and business insurance.
Keep the originals of your key documents in a safe place and ensure that trusted family members know where to find them. We recommend reviewing these documents every few years or after major life changes.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Conveyancing Done Right
What is conveyancing, how long does it take, and what can go wrong? We guide you through your choices
Braintree: Our Solicitors’ Home
Braintree has been home to Cunningtons solicitors since 1748. Discover why we love this Essex town …
Braintree Partner Profile
Bryony is the Partner in Charge of the Braintree branch. Find out more about her here.