When Someone Dies

When someone dies, dealing with their estate can be an upsetting and emotionally difficult task. We minimise the stress, acting for personal representatives and family members, to ensure that the estate is administered correctly as well as assisting with obtaining grants of representation.

Meet the team

Supporting bereaved families

Whether your loved one left a will or not, we can help to administer their affairs in a hassle-free and compassionate way. We work with personal representatives to make certain everything goes according to either the will or the law of intestacy, and we can provide specialist advice on inheritance tax, minimising the liability through careful application of exemptions and reliefs.

In many cases we look after families and individuals over many decades, providing intergenerational estate planning advice. This proactive approach means we are often able to reduce a deceased’s estate’s exposure to inheritance tax and support the smooth succession of their assets.

 

We understand the complex provisions of the inheritance tax legislation and the exacting requirements of HMRC. As a result, we can ensure that all appropriate claims for reliefs, allowances and exemptions are made, and deal with any queries raised by HMRC.

Other taxes such as capital gains tax and income tax may be relevant and there may be scope for mitigation. We can also help if there is a trust involved.

We’ll handle all the paperwork, leaving you to deal with the more practical issues, such as personal items. We’ll also assist with the collection of assets and the settlement of the estate’s liabilities. We will help prepare estate accounts and deal with the distribution of assets to the beneficiaries.

Years of estate administration experience

Our team of private client lawyers have been looking after families’ estates for generations. We can help with all manner of complex issues, from discussions around what happens to children when parents die, through to the distribution and implications of owning overseas assets.

We’ll also help you to plan ahead to mitigate inheritance tax, and our vast experience enables us to advise on a range of different options, including setting up trusts and family investment companies.

A helping hand in difficult times

Every now and again, there may be doubt surrounding how a will was made, or a dependant or family member(s) might feel that a will doesn’t make adequate provision for them. If a disagreement occurs between beneficiaries, our team of specialist Contentious Trusts Wills and Estates Team is on hand to support.

We are often called on to act as an independent administrator if, for example, there are conflicts between executors or there are other reasons why an independent executor is needed.

Our Private Wealth sector

Clients who have built a significant assets base may face a complex legal and tax landscape. Our experts, who cover a range of legal disciplines, are on hand to provide specialist legal guidance and support to help individuals, their families, trustees and family offices.

Services from our Private Wealth team

Legal updates and thought leadership

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Recognition of our work

Investors in People

Investors in People

Legal 500 2026 – Top Tier Firm

Legal 500 2026 – Top Tier Firm

Hear what our clients say about us

Beth and Leanne‘s thorough understanding of the legal intricacies and their strategic approach ensured that we were always well-informed and confident throughout the entire process. They were not only our legal representatives but also our pillars of support during this challenging time. Their compassionate and empathetic nature made us feel heard and valued, and their relentless pursuit of justice on our behalf was truly commendable. Thanks to their hard work and perseverance, we can now move forward with peace of mind and financial security. I wholeheartedly recommend Beth and Leanne to anyone in need of exceptional legal representation. They are truly outstanding professionals who go above and beyond for their clients.

Client testimonial Probate dispute

In all my dealings with Sean, I have found him to be exceptionally accurate, detailed and comprehensive with any advice. He is always clear and concise with his advice which is cogent and convincing. He is invariably extremely courteous and inspires complete confidence. He is also a very personable, enthusiastic, and approachable individual.

In summary, I can wholeheartedly recommend Sean Boucher to deal with all relevant legal issues.

Sean Boucher Private client

Harriet has been extremely professional and we are very happy with the service provided.

Client testimonial Private client

Harriet was excellent in her support and professionalism. If I have any problems or things I am not sure on I feel confident in asking Harriet for her honest and clear advice.

Client testimonial Private client

I am currently instructing Kerri Woodrow in an estate where I am one of the executors. I have known Kerri for many years and know her to have excellent knowledge of the issues involved. In addition, Kerri offers very practical advice and has quickly established an excellent working relationship with my co-executor and myself.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Sally Robinson delivers a good client service and is also pragmatic with a technically strong understanding of the law.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

The team at Harrison Clark Rickerby naturally and usually delivers above expectations. Having used HCR for a number of years, delivering above expectations should be a tall order, but it seems to me to happen every time. They are skilled at understanding your questions and exploring the depth of the question and your concerns. The advice is clear, concise and full of depth.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Tom Murphy-Kirkhope ensures he understands your aims, interprets them, meets to reinforce that both parties are working on the same page and then delivers. He has an able team who supports this process and who ensure support is never far away.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Claire Pottinger continues to exceed expectations with her knowledge, industry expertise, specialist insights and efficiency. Her diplomacy in a sometimes difficult situation has been exemplary. I don’t know how we would have got through this long and laborious process without her assistance.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Thank you so much for your help with this matter and for being so considerate in maximising time and minimising costs, it’s greatly appreciated. I know these situations can be tricky and ever-evolving from one day to the next, so your thoughtfulness and efforts to keep things efficient really mean a lot.

Client testimonial

Harriet was very helpful, kind, polite, extremely understanding of my wishes, very easy to speak to and therefore my needs and wishes were met.

Client testimonial Private Client

The team…handles a significant amount of agricultural succession planning work, an area that Carmarthen-based partner, Sean Boucher, is particularly skilled.

Legal 500

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