man talking to woman and signing a document in her kitchen

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.

Services from our Private Client team

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

View All

Recognition of our work

Cambridge Law Society Private Client Services Team of the Year

Cambridge Law Society Private Client Services Team of the Year
Investors in People

Investors in People

Recommended for Quality

Recommended for Quality

The Times – Best Law Firms 2024 (Private Client)

The Times – Best Law Firms 2024 (Private Client)

Hear what our clients say about us

Lucy has recently drawn up LPAs and wills on behalf of me and my wife Joy.

Throughout she was extremely professional, very personable and explained the unfamiliar complexities of legal jargon in layman’s language, crafted in our best interest.

Lucy is a first class ambassador for your firm and henceforth our default setting for legal assistance. Thank you.

Client Testimonial LPA and Will Drafting

Georgia has been nothing shy of brilliant in terms of keeping me and my brother up to date with all matters – responding efficiently and providing guidance. The work needed to be exceptional and completed professionally and with pace. Georgia delivered that and more.

I value her expertise, she is an asset to the firm and one I will keep in mind for future opportunities.

Client Probate and Land Registry Updates

It has been really reassuring to have your help and professional expertise to take us through the process of resolving the trusts our Dad had set up. You explained everything clearly and enabled us to choose the right solution. You and everyone we engaged with at HCR have consistently been highly professional, caring and supportive.

Client Advice on Trusts

I’ve received a first-class service from HCR’s Private Client team.

I’m exceptionally pleased with the work that has been carried out for me.

Mrs S Estate Administration

I wanted to write and thank you for what you did today. I think you must have the patience of a saint!

I am amazed, to be honest, that you managed to lead this task to a conclusion, I doubted the possibility of it for quite a while!

Client Lasting Power of Attorney

Thank you so much for your helpful advice and for the amazing kindness that you are showing towards me – for which I am so grateful for.

Thank you.

Client Financial abuse

I am so happy with the way in which you handled matters right from the start.

Life is so much easier for me now.

Mr E Lasting Power of Attorney

It’s been a great reassurance to have such expert and reliable help.

Client Older and Vulnerable People

I found Tonina was most approachable and prompt to answer calls.

Client Will, Trusts & Estates

Lauren came to hospital to assist me with getting my will in place. Thank goodness for Lauren, she attended to me with fully drawn-up papers within 24 hours of my instruction, which I was so grateful for as my health was declining fast.

Mrs C Wills & Power of Attorney

I was very impressed with Lauren’s enthusiasm for her work, her professionalism and knowledge of law. She also shows a pragmatism that belies her age. In short, she is a credit to HCR.

Mr K Will, Trusts & Estates

I have never had the pleasure of working with a solicitor so responsive, clear, practical and on top of everything. Thank you for that.

Mr Glynn Probate

How can we help you?

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.