Planning ahead for your family, or dealing with the practical and emotional chore of administering someone’s estate? Our lead Wills and probate solicitor at Cunningtons’ Hornchurch branch, Rachael Fleet, helps clients across Hornchurch, Ilford, Romford, Upminster and the wider London Borough of Havering with Will writing, Lasting Powers of Attorney, probate and estate administration, trusts and Court of Protection matters. We offer fixed-fee Will writing and a free initial quotation, with clear, honest advice and no jargon, so you always know what’s happening and why.
Areas served by our Hornchurch branch
Centrally located on Hornchurch High Street, our office allows us to serve clients throughout Greater London and Essex, including:
Meet your Hornchurch Wills & Probate solicitor
Rachael Fleet: Wills & Probate Solicitor
Working in our Hornchurch and Wickford offices, covering Wills and Probate
Rachael Fleet is our Wills & Probate Solicitor, based at both our Wickford and Hornchurch branches. She qualified as a solicitor in May 2013 and joined Cunningtons in October 2024, advising on Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, probate and inheritance tax. She holds an LLB (Hons), has completed the Legal Practice Course, and is a Dementia Friend, taking particular care with vulnerable clients.
Contact Rachael by phone: 01708 202 742
Or by email: rachael.fleet@cunningtons.co.uk
Read Rachael’s profile here >>
What we help with
Cunningtons’ Hornchurch branch give you access to a full suite of ‘private client’ matters, including:
- Simple Will: from £300 + VAT
Whatever your personal circumstances, we ensure that your Will explains clearly who inherits what, who you should appoint to act as your executor, and who should look after any children after you’re gone, so your wishes are recorded properly and your family isn’t left guessing. - Mirror Wills (for a couple): from £500 + VAT
If you and your partner have simple wishes and want to have matching Wills that leave everything to each other and then to the same beneficiaries afterwards, a pair of mirror Wills is usually the simplest and most cost-effective way to achieve this. - Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA): £200 + VAT without registration or £300 + VAT with registration, £500 + VAT for both, each LPA needs a £92 fee to the Office of the Public Guardian
Planning for the future isn’t just about Wills; we can help you choose someone you trust to make decisions for you if you’re ever unable to do it yourself. Whether it’s managing your money and property or making decisions about your healthcare and medical treatment, having an LPA in place can matter just as much as having a Will. - Full probate service: from £3,500 to £5,000 + VAT, or a percentage of the estate for more complex matters
If you’ve been named an executor of a Will, we can handle as much or as little of the process as you need. Our probate services cover the whole process, from applying for the Grant of Probate through to settling debts, paying any tax owing, and distributing the estate correctly and in reasonable time, so you’re not left carrying that responsibility alone. - Deed of Trust (property)
If you’re buying a property with someone else, whether they’re a partner, a family member, or a friend, a Deed of Trust sets out clearly who owns what share of it and what happens to that share if the property is ever sold or you separate. A Deed of Trust is a simple, practical way to protect everyone’s interests from the outset, rather than relying on assumptions that can cause real difficulty later. - Legal advice consultation
If you’d like clear, independent legal advice on your own situation before deciding what to do next, whether that’s about a Will, an LPA, or an estate you’re dealing with, you can book a one-off consultation with us. It’s a straightforward way to get your questions answered properly, with no obligation to go any further.
Our Wills & Probate department has solicitors across the firm who are Dementia Friends, and they’re all used to dealing with clients when it comes to delicate subjects such as health, ageing and legacy. Rachael at Hornchurch knows how to handle these issues sensitively, so you can be confident that both you and your loved ones will be well looked after.
Our Wills & Probate solicitors are on your side
The services our private client department offers include:
- Writing a Will,
- Probate solicitors and Estate Administration,
- Court of Protection,
- Lasting Powers of Attorney,
- Deeds of Variation,
- Trust Deeds, and
- Trust Administration
More about the services offered by our Wills and Probate team
Writing Wills
It’s never easy to think about what will happen after we die, but having a valid Will in place can make things much easier for those we leave behind. It sets out clearly what you want to happen to your money, property and possessions when you’re gone, who should be responsible for executing your Will, and who should look after any children, so your family isn’t left guessing or having decisions made for them by intestacy rules that may not reflect what you’d have wanted.
A well-drafted Will can:
- make the most of the tax reliefs and exemptions available to you, including those for gifts to charity;
- set aside provision for children or other dependants; and
- include protections for any vulnerable family members, so that they’re looked after in a way you approve of.
We’ll help you think through these decisions and put them into a Will that’s clearly written, properly executed, and reflects what you actually want to happen, so you can feel confident your Will does what you need it to. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote for our fixed-fee Will-writing service.
Probate and Estate Administration
When someone dies, their estate, their property, money and belongings, has to be dealt with properly, often at the same time as you’re dealing with the loss itself. It’s a lot to take on, and it’s entirely normal to find the practical side overwhelming on top of the emotional one.
If you’ve been named as an executor, you may need to apply for a Grant of Probate before you can deal with the estate, pay any Inheritance Tax due, settle debts, and distribute what’s left according to the Will, or the rules of intestacy, if there wasn’t a Will. The process can feel bureaucratic and slow if you’re doing it for the first time, especially while you’re grieving, and there’s more to the role than most people expect. Our full guide to an executor’s duties covers what’s actually involved, step by step, if you want to understand the role in more depth.
What happens during probate, step by step
Every estate is different, but most administrations follow this shape.
Register the Death
Get the death certificate and notify key organisations.
Value the Estate
Identify assets, debts, and the estate’s total value.
Apply for the Grant
Apply to the Probate Registry for a Grant of Probate.
Settle Debts & Tax
Pay any Inheritance Tax due and clear outstanding debts.
Distribute the Estate
Share what remains, as set out in the Will.
Rachael and our Wills and probate team can take on as much or as little of this as you need, from the full estate administration through to simply applying for the Grant of Probate. We’ll explain each step clearly as we go, so you’re never left navigating HMRC or the Probate Registry alone. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote.
Get A Quote
Click here to order your quote from our Hornchurch solicitors
Lasting Powers of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets you choose someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you’re ever unable to make them yourself, whether that’s through illness, an accident, or the effects of age. There are two types of LPA, and most of us need to think about both, since they cover different things: one covers your property and finances, and one is for your health and welfare.
The two types of Lasting Power of Attorney
Most people need to consider both, they cover different things.
Property & Financial Affairs
Lets your attorney manage your money, property and bills, for example paying your mortgage or managing your bank accounts, either now or if you lose capacity to do so in future.
Health & Welfare
Lets your attorney make decisions about your care and medical treatment, but only once you’re no longer able to make those decisions yourself.
Without an LPA in place, your family can’t simply step in and make these decisions for you. They’d usually need to apply to the Court of Protection instead, which takes longer, costs more, and means a court, not you, decides who’s in charge of your care. Setting up an LPA now, while you’re able to, means you make that choice yourself.
Read more about how Lasting Powers of Attorney work, including our fixed fees and how the process works, or get in touch for a free quote to get yours in place.
Deeds of Variation
A Deed of Variation lets you change who receives some or all of an inheritance you’re entitled to, with the agreement of everyone else affected by the change. People use them for a range of reasons, sometimes to pass an inheritance straight on to children or grandchildren, or to change how a jointly-owned property is held. Depending on how it’s drafted, a Deed of Variation can also have Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax or Stamp Duty Land Tax implications; our Deed of Variation Q&A walks through some real examples of how this can work.
There are strict time limits and legal requirements for a Deed of Variation to be effective, so it’s best handled by a solicitor who can confirm whether a deed of variation is the right option for your circumstances, and if so, make sure that it’s drafted correctly.
Get in touch to talk your concerns through.
Court of Protection
If someone loses the capacity to make decisions and there’s no Lasting Power of Attorney in place, a number of problems can arise. Issues such as:
- who will administer their finances,
- how that person then gets the legal authority to administer their finances,
- what restrictions are in place when it comes to making gifts or managing investments,
- as well as the day-to-day administration involved with running somebody else’s healthcare or finances,
all need resolving.
Rachael and our Wills and probate team are on hand to help with the legal advice and administrative responsibilities this involves, having acted as Court-appointed Deputies themselves.
Get in touch with us to talk through your situation.
Deeds of Trust
A Trust Deed is a mechanism that can be used as an agreement between you and a partner, setting out who gets what back if your home ever has to be sold, for example as a result of divorce or separation.
Trust Deeds can serve other purposes too, including helping protect family assets, though exactly what’s achievable depends entirely on your own circumstances, so it’s worth talking it through with us rather than assuming a Trust Deed will cover a specific situation.
Get in touch to find out whether one is right for you.
Trust Administration
If you’ve been appointed as a trustee of an estate, you have a number of legal responsibilities, from managing the trust’s assets properly to keeping accurate accounts and making sure beneficiaries receive what they’re entitled to. Getting any of this wrong can leave you personally liable, so it’s not something to take on without support if you’re unsure of what’s required.
Rachael and our Wills and probate team can help you meet these duties properly, whatever stage the trust is at.
And if you haven’t set up a trust yet and want to understand your options first, our guide to trusts covers the different types available.
Get in touch to find out how we can help with all aspects of trusts. .
Who runs the Wills and Probate team?
Rachael Fleet is your Wills and probate solicitor here in Hornchurch.
Across the wider firm, our Wills and Probate department is led by Bryony Wilmshurst, based at our Braintree office, who’s also a member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers and a Dementia Friend Champion. You can read more about Bryony if you’d like to know about the wider team behind the department.
Cunningtons Solicitors in Hornchurch
First Floor, 135 High Street,
Hornchurch,
Greater London,
RM11 3YD
United Kingdom
Tel: 01708 984 999
Other branches offering Wills and Probate services
Click to find out more about our Wills and Probate solicitors at our other branches in Braintree, Brighton, Chelmsford, Croydon, Hastings and Wickford.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Will?
A Will is a legal document which sets out what you would like to happen to your assets in the event of your death, who you would like to administer your estate, who you would like to look after your children and your funeral wishes.
Do I need a Will?
If you are over the age of 18, have assets or children a Will is the best way to ensure that your wishes will be carried out in the event of your death. With a valid Will, you can feel confident your wishes will be carried out as you intend
We are a couple, can we have a joint Will?
Joint Wills are very rare and problematic these days. It is more usual to have Mirror Wills which is where you each have a Will but on similar terms.
It is important to bear in mind that with Mirror Wills once you have left your estate to your partner, your partner is then free to do whatever he or she wishes with your assets, they could leave what they have inherited from you to a new partner. For more information please see Asset Protection Trust factsheet.
What is an Executor?
An Executor is a person who will administer your estate in accordance with the terms of your Will, they will complete relevant tax returns and apply for the Grant of Probate before collecting in the assets and distributing them to your beneficiaries.
An Executor can be anyone over the age of 18, it is important that you appoint not only someone that you trust but someone who is capable of handling the administration of your estate in what is likely to be an emotional and stressful time. Before appointing an Executor you may wish to discuss the matter with the person or persons involved to ensure they are willing to be named as Executor in your Will, although this is not essential and as the Will is personal to you, you might not wish to disclose details to an Executor.
If you appoint someone other than your Solicitor and they refuse to carry out the duties after your death then problems could arise.
Can I have Cunningtons as my Executors?
Yes, we can act as Executors for you. However, professional executors will charge for their work.
What is a Guardian?
A Guardian is a person or people who will look after your children in the event of your death, they will be responsible for bringing up your children.
How often should I review my Will?
A Will should be reviewed whenever your personal or financial circumstances change significantly or if your beneficiaries’ circumstances change significantly.
We recommend that you review your Will at least every five years to ensure it still accords with your wishes and is still appropriate for your circumstances.
How long would it take to write my Will?
Upon receipt of your instructions, we aim to send you a draft of your Will for your approval within 7 days. If there are no unforeseen circumstances it is likely that your Will will be signed within a month of us receiving instructions from you.
Can I draft a Will myself or download it from the internet?
We would strongly advise against drafting your own Will or downloading a pro-forma on line.
There is an increasing amount of litigation that arises from incorrectly drafted Wills, often Wills drafted by people who are not legally qualified do not do what the person drafting them thinks they do which can cause significant problems and delays in the event of your death.
Often, it ends up costing far more to rectify any errors than the cost of a Will professionally drafted.
Can you store my original Will?
We can store your original Will free of charge in our Strong Room. We will only release it to you during your lifetime upon receipt of your identification, to your Attorney in the event of loss of mental capacity if you have authorised your Attorney to have access to your Will under your Lasting Power of Attorney or to your Executors on your death upon receipt of your original Death Certificate and the identification and authority of all your Executors.
Do you offer family law and employment law services at the Hornchurch branch?
While Rachael Fleet, specialist probate solicitor for our Hornchurch office, focuses exclusively on Wills and probate services, Cunningtons provides comprehensive legal services in Greater London using our branch network.
Our family law team is available through our Braintree, Chelmsford and Wickford offices, and you can discuss your employment law issues at Braintree.