The trusted probate solicitors at Cunningtons’ Brighton & Hove office provide expert legal advice covering all aspects of Wills and probate, trusts, and estate planning.
Our experienced Wills and probate solicitors aim to deliver an efficient, friendly and approachable legal service to clients throughout Brighton & Hove and the surrounding areas.
We like to work with our clients in a personable and stress-free way, understanding and addressing your circumstances to clearly communicate your options and the outcomes.
Brighton Wills and Probate Solicitors: Our Comprehensive Services
Planning your estate is vital for both you and your family, although it is a difficult subject to discuss. Our Brighton Wills and probate team ensures that the advice and information we provide is both comprehensive and (crucially!) easy to understand, and delivered in a personable manner.
Our specialist Wills and probate team at the Brighton & Hove branch can help you with:
- Will writing and reviews;
- Probate applications and estate administration;
- Trust creation;
- Inheritance tax planning;
- Lasting Powers of Attorney;
- Court of Protection applications;
- Contentious probate matters; and
- Deeds of Variation.
Cunningtons are one of Brighton’s most trusted Wills and probate solicitors. We talk to our clients in a calm and stress-free manner, getting to grips with their unique circumstances to communicate their options clearly, which allows us to make sure that they understand the likely outcomes of any work they agree to.
Why Choose Cunningtons Brighton Wills and Probate Services?
- Local expertise: Our probate team understand Brighton’s District Probate Registry and local estate administration requirements;
- Personal approach: Clients work directly with an experienced legal professional, and not case handlers;
- Fixed fee options: Transparent pricing for most of our Wills and probate services;
- Expert support: Access to Bryony Wilmshurst, one of the most experienced probate solicitors Brighton clients can consult through Cunningtons’ branch network;
- Excellent service: Highly rated by clients throughout Brighton & Hove; and our
- Full service: Everything from simple Wills to complex multi-million pound estates.
Our Comprehensive Range of Private Client Services
At Cunningtons’ Brighton & Hove office, you have access to the full range of estate planning and private client services through our Wills and Probate specialist, Jensen Bourke.
Probate and Estate Administration
Dealing with a deceased person’s estate during probate can be complex and stressful, especially during such an emotionally sensitive time.
Our Brighton probate specialists provide expert guidance through the entire Wills and probate process, including:
- Meeting legally critical time limits;
- Claiming available tax allowances;
- Reclaiming any overpaid tax;
- Protecting the deceased’s estate assets; and
- Fulfilling legal responsibilities to HMRC and the Probate Court
Our experienced Wills and probate team in Brighton can also act as executors or estate administrators on your behalf, managing the deceased’s estate accounts and ensuring proper distribution according to their wishes as laid out in their Will.
The probate specialists at our Brighton office use their professional experience to guide you through the legal complexities of probate and estate administration with compassion and impartiality.
Will Writing Services in Brighton
Getting your affairs in order with a properly-drafted Will prevents additional stress for your loved ones after you’re gone. Your local Wills and probate team in Brighton provide expert Will writing services to ensure your wishes are carried out exactly as intended.
A professionally-drafted Will, created in consultation with a Will-writing specialist can:
- Protect your tax allowances from being reduced or lost;
- Use charitable exemptions to potentially reduce inheritance tax, while benefitting causes close to your heart;
- Set aside assets for children and future generations; and
- Protect vulnerable family members through the correct legal mechanisms.
Our Brighton Wills and probate team also specialises in succession planning through Wills trusts, ensuring the smooth transition of assets to your chosen beneficiaries while managing wealth effectively.
Our Brighton branch Wills and Probate specialist
Our Brighton Wills and probate services are delivered by Jensen Bourke, a chartered Legal Executive with extensive experience in Wills and probate matters. As a Dementia Friend, Jensen promotes understanding of dementia and brings years of practical experience to his role. Jensen specialises in:
- Wills and Probate
- Estate Administration
- Tax Planning
- Trusts
- Court of Protection
- Powers of Attorney
Our Brighton team works as part of Cunningtons’ wider Wills & Probate department, which is headed by Bryony Wilmshurst at our Braintree office.
Inheritance Tax Planning
Inheritance tax planning is essential when preparing your estate. Our experienced Wills and probate team provide guidance on inheritance tax laws and help you develop strategies for dealing with tax efficiency.
Our Brighton specialists can help you:
- Understand your current potential inheritance tax liability;
- Identify exemptions and reliefs you may qualify for;
- Structure your estate to minimise your tax burden; and
- Create tax-efficient trusts where appropriate.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to designate who will manage your financial affairs and personal welfare if you become unable to do so. Our Brighton Wills and probate team can explain why having an LPA is vital and the benefits they provide.
We offer expert guidance on:
- Property and Financial Affairs LPAs;
- Health and Welfare LPAs;
- Registration with the Office of the Public Guardian;
- Acting as Certificate Providers; as well as
- Advising attorneys on their duties and responsibilities.
Talk to us to learn about why having Powers of Attorney in place is important and what benefits they provide.
Deeds of Variation
A Deed of Variation can redirect assets received from an estate, providing a powerful tool for planning around Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duty Land Tax, and intergenerational taxation. Our Wills and probate specialists in Brighton create tailored Deeds of Variation to fit your specific circumstances.
Since there are strict rules for a valid Deed of Variation, our expert Wills and probate team ensures all requirements are met for effective planning. Read more about Deeds of Variation here.
Court of Protection
Losing mental capacity creates numerous challenges if no Power of Attorney is in place. Many assume a spouse or family member can automatically manage finances, but this isn’t legally possible without proper authority.
Read our description of what happened to Kate Garraway when her husband contracted Covid.
Our Brighton Wills and probate team have extensive experience helping with:
- Obtaining legal authority to administer finances;
- Managing day-to-day administration;
- Advising on permissible gifts and investment management;
- Applications for Deputyship Orders; and
- Acting as Court-appointed Deputies.
Our Private Client lawyers have a wealth of experience in helping you with your legal and administrative duties and have been Court-appointed Deputies
Trust Deeds and Trust Administration
Our Wills and probate team in Brighton provides expert advice on creating and administering trusts, including:
- Drafting Trust Deeds for various purposes;
- Setting up protective trusts to shield family assets;
- Creating tax-efficient trust structures;
- Helping trustees understand their responsibilities; as well as
- Ongoing trust administration and compliance.
A properly drafted Trust Deed can be used as an agreement between partners as to who will get what back if your home has to be sold on separation.
Trustees and any family member involved in the process have a number of responsibilities, duties, and accountabilities – we can help you with the correct administration of your Trust.
Trusts have other uses which may help protect your family from third parties and from tax. Ask us for more information.
Contentious Probate
Contentious probate arises when there is a dispute over the administration of an estate, often involving a challenge to the validity of a will or a dispute between beneficiaries. Our experienced probate solicitors can provide expert advice and representation in contentious probate matters.
Resolving Disputes
Our probate solicitors work with our civil litigation department when resolving disputes in contentious probate matters, including:
- challenging the validity of a will;
- disputes between beneficiaries;
- disputes between executors or personal representatives;
- claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975; and
- introducing mediation and alternative dispute resolution.
We understand the emotional and financial strain that contentious probate disputes cause, and our experienced probate and litigation team work tirelessly to resolve the dispute fairly and efficiently.
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Our Brighton & Hove Wills and Probate team
Our Brighton Wills and probate team serve clients throughout Brighton & Hove and the surrounding areas. Our Duke Street office provides convenient access for clients from:
- Central Brighton
- Hove and Portslade
- Kemptown and Queen’s Park
- Seven Dials and Preston Park
- Brighton Marina and surrounding coastal areas
- Worthing, Eastbourne, and Haywards Heath
You can contact Jensen by email at jensen.bourke@cunningtons.co.uk.
Other branches offering Wills and Probate services
Click to find out more about our Wills and Probate solicitors in Braintree, Chelmsford, Croydon, Hornchurch and Wickford.
Cunningtons Solicitors in Brighton
31 Duke Street
Brighton & Hove
BN1 1AG
United Kingdom
Tel: 01273 725229
Fax: 01273 779758
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that our trusted probate solicitors are often asked: if you need an answer to a question that is not on this list, please contact us for an answer.
What is probate, and when do I need it?
Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. It’s typically needed when the deceased owned property or other assets that need to be properly distributed. Our Wills and probate solicitors can advise whether probate is necessary in your specific situation.
How long does the probate process take?
The probate timeline varies depending on the estate’s complexity, but typically takes 6-12 months. Our experienced Wills and probate team in Brighton works efficiently to complete the process as quickly as possible, ensuring all legal requirements are met.
What are the benefits of using the Wills and probate specialists in Brighton to act for me, rather than handling the probate myself?
When searching for ‘probate solicitors Brighton’, what’s most important is finding experienced legal professionals who understand the probate process thoroughly.
Using Cunningtons’ experienced Wills and probate specialists can provide you with peace of mind that everything is handled correctly. Our Brighton team understand the complex legal requirements as they have dealt with probate issues many times. This helps them avoid costly mistakes, deal with HMRC, handle complicated family situations, and often save you money through proper tax planning.
How much does it cost to have the Brighton Wills and probate team administer probate on my behalf?
Our Wills and probate team in Brighton offers competitive, transparent pricing. We provide detailed estimates of the costs involved from the outset, with options for fixed fees for certain services. Contact us for a personalised quote based on your specific needs.