Archive for category Legal Services
Lodge Brothers: Your Compassionate Guide Through Probate
Posted by admin in Legal Services on March 8, 2024
Probate, the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate, can be a complex and overwhelming process for many families. During such challenging times, having the support and guidance of experienced professionals can make all the difference. This is where Lodge Brothers Probate Weybridge comes into play, offering invaluable assistance and expertise to navigate the intricacies of probate proceedings.
When a person passes away, their estate – comprising assets, properties, debts, and possessions – must be distributed according to their will. Probate involves validating the will, identifying and valuing assets, settling debts, and ultimately distributing the remaining estate to beneficiaries.
Lodge Brothers is not just a probate service provider but a compassionate companion for families during the probate journey. Lodge Brothers’ team comprises legal experts who provide clear, comprehensive guidance throughout the probate process. From understanding legal requirements to fulfilling administrative tasks, they ensure that every aspect of probate is handled efficiently and accurately.
Lodge Brothers Probate Guildford offer personalised support in your times of grief. Losing a loved one is emotionally challenging, and dealing with probate can add to the stress. Lodge Brothers understands this and tailor their support to each family’s unique needs. They provide a sympathetic ear, offering reassurance and alleviating the burden of probate administration so that families can focus on grieving and healing.
Probate Feltham proceedings involve numerous administrative tasks, including gathering documents, filing paperwork, and communicating with various entities such as banks and creditors. Lodge Brothers’ experienced team manages these tasks with precision and efficiency, streamlining the probate process and minimising delays.
Managing an estate involves not only distributing assets but also ensuring compliance with tax laws and fulfilling any outstanding obligations. Lodge Brothers Probate Woking oversees all aspects of estate management, ensuring that assets are distributed correctly, debts are settled, and taxes are filed appropriately, providing families with peace of mind.
Lodge Brothers prioritises transparent communication, providing regular updates and addressing any concerns promptly, fostering trust and confidence throughout the probate journey. Effective communication is crucial during probate proceedings, keeping families informed at every step of the process.
Navigating probate can be overwhelming, but with the support of Lodge Brothers Probate Ashford, families can find comfort in knowing that they are not alone. From expert guidance to personalised support, Lodge Brothers offers comprehensive assistance every step of the way, easing the burden of probate administration and allowing families to focus on honouring their loved one’s legacy. When it comes to probate, Lodge Brothers is not just a service provider but a trusted partner dedicated to helping families navigate through challenging times with compassion and professionalism.
Lodge Brothers Qualified Professional Lawyers Specialising solely in Probate, Wills and Power of Attorney
Posted by admin in Funeral Directors, Legal Services on October 9, 2023
One thing that you can be guaranteed of when you engage with a Lodge Brothers Legal attorney is that you will receive the personal touch. Lodge Brothers Legal Services are affiliated with the Lodge Brothers Funeral Directors family of companies with a unique past. In operation for over 240 years, the Lodge Brothers managed to grow throughout the UK for 8 generations, making them the epitome of the family business. As part of the services offered to their client base which spans the breadth and length of the UK, Lodge Brothers looked to increasing their funeral director services, with that of legal Services specifically related to the needs of the families who came to them, to say goodbye to their loved ones.
The complimentary services included probate Guildford assistance, drawing up of Wills and preparing Lasting Power of Attorneys. The Lodge Brothers name is one which you will be familiar with and this is because they are placed conveniently across the country, meaning that you and your family may well have already had dealings with them. Lodge Brothers Legal attorneys have followed suit and offer each individual service with the personal touch that you come to expect from the brand.
If you turn to social media you will notice that there are many competitors in the industry but if you are looking for experts in the field, with an elevated knowledge of probate Ashford, in your local area, then it’s the Lodge Brothers Probate Feltham services that will benefit you’re the most. Being able to meet with your personal attorney face to face makes it easier to have all of your questions answered, and it will be far easier to reach your Probate attorney when the time comes for you that you may need to meet with them face to face. Having a local solicitor gives you peace of mind, knowing that you are able to contact their offices in person, at any time.
Lodge Brothers probate Shepperton has access to over 40 offices across a vast area in the UK stretching from Surrey, through Middlesex and into Berkshire allowing for face-to-face meetings in all of these areas. Should you prefer to contact your attorney through online options, that is always an equally possible alternative.
Offering 3 service levels to ensure affordability and adaptability, there is a suitable option for everyone. Chose Bronze level, where the application remains with the appointed Executor of the estate, however our Executors will help to prepare all probate forms and make the application at the probate registry. With the Silver Service level, appointed Executors remain responsible for registering the death with all asset holders. Executors will establish the assets and liabilities at date of death while we complete the probate papers, Inheritance tax forms and apply for the Grant. Our attorneys will register the death certificate with the asset holders.
Choosing a Gold level service, Lodge Brothers Probate Woking attorneys will ascertain the date of death assets, liabilities of the estate, complete all the probate papers, Inheritance Tax forms and apply for the Grant.
Lodge Brothers Legal Services is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Lodge Brothers Legal Attorneys in Feltham
Posted by admin in Legal Services on October 2, 2023
Lodge Brothers Legal Services take pride in delivering compassionate and pragmatic legal guidance with utmost efficiency and professionalism. Lodge Brothers Legal assistance aims to alleviate the burdens on families during trying times when a beloved family member passes away, ensuring that the intricacies of legal procedures do not compound the distress that often accompanies such circumstances.
Engaging probate services is an essential step in concluding the affairs of an estate and it’s strongly advised that individuals possessing property, substantial assets or trusts avail themselves to the probate Ashford services extended by Lodge Brothers legal professionals. Opting for legal attorney-guided probate services is a straightforward process: entrust Lodge Brothers Legal Services attorneys with your legal power of attorney, granting them the authority to act on your behalf. This facilitation ensures the precision of your will and all ensuing procedures necessary for the seamless execution of your end of life wishes.
Lodge Brothers’ legal experts specialise exclusively in Probate Guildford, Wills and Power of Attorney. Probate is a legal imperative that holds considerable significance in that it is how the courts ensure the proper administration and transfer of the deceased person’s estate to their heirs or beneficiaries in a legal and systematic manner. The process begins with the most important aspect of creating a meticulously watertight will, methodically created to leave no room for ambiguity so that when the time comes to finalise your estate, you can literally rest assured of the delivery of effectual and professional services from start to finish.
The Probate process usually involves verifying the legitimacy of the will, identifying and valuing the assets and debts of the estate, finalising any outstanding taxes and debts and then distributing the remaining assets to the rightful recipients. The probate process is directed by a court and may involve the appointment of an executor or administrator to oversee the estate’s management and distribution. It is an intricate process requiring a designated individual to be responsible for managing a deceased person’s estate. Given the intricacies involved, the process of probate ideally requires the expertise of a skilled probate attorney. The multifaceted nature of probate Feltham encompasses crucial aspects such as assessing the value of assets and liabilities, finalising matters related to Inheritance Tax and initiating applications with the Probate Registry for either the Grant of Probate or the Grant of Letters of Administration.
The compassionate and dedicated team of attorneys at Lodge Brothers Legal Services dedicates themselves to aiding families and individuals in navigating legal requirements after an individual’s death. Although the contemplation of requiring such services is sombre, it is undeniably one of the most crucial and pragmatic matters to attend to while still alive, thereby alleviating the potential burdens on others and ensuring that no unforeseen complications await them.
The importance of reaching out for legal services professionals to assist you with decisions which can have far-reaching effects on your family’s future can never be over-stated. Provide for your loved ones in the way that you wish and chose Lodge Brothers Legal attorneys to administer your estate.
Choose Lodge Brothers Legal Attorneys to Administer your Estate
Posted by admin in Legal Services on September 2, 2023
A lasting power of attorney document serves as a legal instruction which allows you, the donor, to appoint someone, generally an attorney who has expertise and is permitted to provide legal advice, for the purpose of making decisions on your behalf when you are not able to, for instance should you become mentally or medically incapacitated. Lodge Brothers attorneys specialise in providing the Lasting Power of Attorney Guildford service and can direct you in setting up this legal document. There are 2 types of lasting power of attorney; one for health and welfare and the other for property and financial affairs and a donor has the choice to make use of either, or both types.
The first step to appoint your Lodge Brothers attorney who will provide you with the relevant paperwork to complete and advice you regarding the 2 types of lasting power of attorney Ashford which is available and what they cover. For example the Health and welfare power of attorney covers decisions pertaining to your daily care and lifestyle routines, medical care options, care home options and aspects relating to life-sustaining treatment such as which heroic measures or extraordinary procedures that you wish therapists to do in order to either save or extend your life when you are unable to provide instruction. All aspects relating these aspects are very personal and can make a monumental difference not only to your life, but the lives of your family members which is why engaging with a attorney for this purpose will simply the process and ensure that your choices are safeguarded.
When it comes to property and financial affairs, the Lasting power of attorney Feltham will guide decisions relating to aspects of your bank, building society, account payments, benefit collection and the selling or distribution of your home and assets, allowing you to have the final say as to how these aspects should be managed. This, in conjunction with your last will and testament will ensure that your decisions about your estate and finances are executed legally and with no contest, before your departure, if you are no longer mentally or medically able to refer.
Once you have fully consulted with Lodge Brothers in terms of your options, the paperwork will be completed and lodged with the Office of the Public Guardian which can take to 20 weeks to be finalised, for which there is a nominal cost of (as per gov.uk in 2022) £82.
If a Lasting power of attorney has not been registered at the point at which mental capacity is lost, a deputy will be appointed by the Court of Protection, however this complicated and costly process does not ensure that your personal wishes are met, however all legal aspects relating to a person’s care and well-being will be considered on an on-going basis, as required. The family will not be able to provide input as to what personal care should be or what decisions should be made regarding your finances. This can leave the family in a vulnerable position in the long run.
We can advise on making LPA’s, prepare the documents and deal with registration at the Office of the Public Guardian (“OPG”).
Contact Lodge Brothers Lasting power of attorney Woking and Lodge Brothers Lasting power of attorney Weybridge to speak to us and find out how we can assist you.
Looking for local Lawyers?
Posted by admin in Legal Services on May 4, 2023
Probate is the lawful process that takes place after someone dies which facilitates the distribution of their assets and settlement of their debts. When an individual dies, their property and assets (referred to as their estate) are left behind. Probate is the legal process used to identify, value and finally distribute the assets of the deceased person’s estate, in accordance with the deceased person’s Will (should there be one). While it is possible to handle probate without an attorney, it can be a complex and time-consuming process.
The probate process starts when an executor or personal representative named in the will files a petition with the court initiating the process. If there is no will and no legal attorney to appointed to represent the deceased and their estate, the court will appoint an administrator to manage the estate.
During the probate process, the court will verify the validity of the will (if there is one), identify and catalogue the deceased person’s assets, firstly paying any debts and taxes owed by the estate and then distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries named in the will or, according to the law.
Probate can be a time-consuming and complex process, especially if the deceased person had a substantial or complicated estate. It is therefore highly recommended to work with an attorney who specialises in probate Sunbury to help navigate the process and ensure that everything is handled properly.
In some cases, probate Shepperton can be straightforward and simple, for example, if the estate is small, with few assets and a clear distribution plan, probate may be handled by the executor. However, if the estate is intricate, with significant assets, debts, or tax matters, or if there are disputes among heirs or beneficiaries, it is advisable to work with Lodge Legal Probate attorneys, who specialise in probate Walton and can assist with the navigation of the process. Working with an experienced probate West Byfleet attorney can help to ensure that everything is handled properly and that the estate is settled in a timely and efficient manner.
Lodge Legal solicitors will help you with the legal requirements of probate, including filing the necessary paperwork, complying with deadlines, requirements and communicating with the court and other parties involved in the process. They can also provide guidance on the distribution of assets and help to resolve any disputes that may arise.
It’s also a good idea to start thinking about making these arrangements once you reach the age of 18 years old. At this age, you may want to consider creating a will and designating beneficiaries for your assets, as well as selecting a person or persons to act as your executor, who will manage your estate after your death. It’s important to keep in mind that these arrangements are not set in stone and can be updated as your circumstances change. It’s always a good idea to consult with Lodge Brothers Legal attorneys to help you create a plan that suits your needs and goals.
Legal Attorneys Surrey
Posted by admin in Legal Services on January 3, 2023
Your Legal Power of Attorney, referred to as an LPA, is a document which anyone over the age of 18, with full mental capacity, can have drawn up with the goal of appointing an attorney, or a legal firm, to act and speak on your behalf should you become incapacitated to do so yourself. As the initiator of the LPA the label given to you is “the donor” and this is an empowering tool which you can use to acquire the legal help you may need one day, for the purpose of helping you to preservice your rights, your needs and your preferences when it comes to your care.
Lodge Brothers Legal Attorneys is affiliated with Lodge Brothers Funeral Directors and as such there are 40 branches local branches which they have access to across Surrey, Berkshire and Middlesex. A Lasting Power of Attorney Guildford can be set up regardless of whether you are currently in the UK and you do not need to be a British Citizen to have one drawn up, although the processes in Scotland and Northern Ireland do differ.
Typically, the Lasting Power of Attorney Ashford covers 2 aspects which are relating to your health and welfare and secondly, relates to your financial affairs, including property however it is up to the individual as to whether they want to apply the LPA to just one, or both aspects of their lives.
When it comes to our personal care and safeguarding, it is not always possible for a person to represent themselves in old age or if they have been subject to an accident, incident or illness which renders them unable to represent themselves, be it mentally or physically (in terms of being able to communicate or articulate our wants and needs). Usually, when it comes to a Lasting Power of Attorney Weybridge and personal care, the topics commonly covered include details pertaining to your daily personal care routine, administration of and details pertaining to medicine, wishes about care homes and life-sustaining treatments and options. It is important that even when a person is not able to represent themselves, that their wishes and beliefs are respected.
Financially speaking, when a person appoints an attorney, or attorneys, they will have instructions on how to manage all aspects of the donor’s affairs. This can alleviate the pressure on family members to make these decisions, including the payment of bills and accounts, collection of benefits or pensions and aspects relating to your physical assets and property. In the event that a person does not have a person to hand this duty over to, they will also elicit the expertise of a Lasting Power of attorney solicitor.
The process of completing the forms for your LPA will be facilitated by your attorney and the registration of your Lasting Power of Attorney should be completed as soon as the document is finalised as this can take up to 20 week to process at the Office of the Public Guardian.
Loge Brothers Legal Services | Lasting Power of Attorney Woking
Posted by admin in Funeral Directors, Legal Services on February 5, 2022
LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY WEYBRIDGE
ALL OUR FEES ARE FIXED AND AGREED IN ADVANCE.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (“LPA”) is a legal document that lets you appoint another person, the attorney, to make financial and/or welfare decisions on your behalf, if in the future you become unable or unwilling to make your own decisions.
There are 2 types of Lasting Power of Attorney Ashford:
Property and Financial Affairs
- gives your Attorney authority to deal with your property and finances
- can be used whether or not you lack mental capacity
- your Attorney will be able to manage your bank account, pay your bills, collect your pension and sell your home
Health and Welfare
- allows your Attorney to make welfare and health care decisions for you, including decisions about life sustaining treatment
- can only be used if you lack mental capacity to make your own decisions
- your Attorney can make decisions about your daily routine, medical care and care home
If an LPA is not in place when mental capacity is lost, an application must be made to the Court of Protection for a Deputy to be appointed. This is a complicated and costly process, and the Court of Protection will be involved on an ongoing basis.
We can advise on making LPA’s, prepare the documents and deal with registration at the Office of the Public Guardian (“OPG”).
All our fees are fixed and agreed in advance starting from £475 +VAT (£570 inc. VAT) plus OPG registration fee of £82.
Click here to find out more on Lasting Power of Attorney Woking and Lasting Power of Attorney Feltham
Lodge Brothers Funeral Services
Posted by admin in Funeral Directors, Legal Services on September 19, 2018
Lodge Brothers funeral services is always here to help. We know how unpredictable life can be on a daily basis and that things happen when you least expect it. This is why we make ourselves available at any time on any day, by phone or email. With 533,253 deaths in Wales and the UK in 2017. The office of National statistics shows that the provisional number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending 31 August 2018 was 7,865. Yourmoney.com reports that “Around 60% of UK adults still haven’t made a will, according to new research from Unbiased.co.uk, leaving around 31 million people at risk of dying intestate. If you die without a will your estate will be distributed solely according to intestacy law, which may not reflect your wishes.”
Karen Barrett, CEO and founder of Unbiased, said “It’s clear that many people think they’re just not ‘rich enough’ to need a will. This ignores the fact that a will makes inheritance a far quicker process – do they really want to keep their loved ones waiting longer, when that money might be badly needed? It also doesn’t take into account the complexity of modern families, which intestacy law simply doesn’t address. Children from previous marriages could end up receiving nothing at all.”
At Lodge Brothers, we agree that this is the essential issue surrounding those who pass away without a will and encourage customers who we meet on a daily basis, not to find themselves in the same position as their loved ones who have gone before them. The financial consequences when a loved one dies affects the whole family and especially when there is a young family involved, this can have lasting and irreversible long-lasting effects on the family unit and extended family members. While you may not feel that you are rich enough to have a will, consider what the effects would be on your family should they have to love just one month or one week if you are a weekly paid individual.
At Lodge Brothers we have options to suit every pocket and take pride in extending a helping hand to our hundreds of clients in our local areas. You can find our offices in your local areas simply by visiting our website and searching by location. You will find that we have offices in all locations and we offer additional probate services. For example, should you be looking for probate in Chertsey, Ham or Guildford, simply search probate Chertsey, probate Ham or probate Guildford to find your local branch and contact telephone number or email address. Otherwise you can go to our branch locator search feature, capture your nearest branch, town name of post code, for ease of access to information concerning all services we offer. If you’d like to know a little more about our services, we can send our ‘Guide to Arranging A Funeral’ to your home, or you can view and download a PDF. Click here to obtain.
Lodge Brothers offer an efficient, professional and above all personal service
Posted by admin in Funeral Directors, Legal Services on August 14, 2018
Preparing a will for when you pass away is one of the most important things that you can do with your life, or so we have all heard… but is it really true that not having a will is going to cause problems for those you leave behind? Or is this just another fear-based threat designed to get us to jump into action and act by paying someone else to do our will for us, when in fact we could either do it ourselves or leave it all together? After all, there are rules in place which must be followed when we die, to ensure that the possessions we gather in life, are distributed amongst the family we leave behind. Why is the threat of not having a will shrouded in so many layers of alarming outcomes for those who are affected?
The fact is that there absolutely are rules which govern the passing of assets on to family once a person has deceased. These rules are fairly straight forward and not at all difficult to apply because as with everything based in the law, there is little to no room for personal interpretation nor much capacity for a person to manipulate the rules. And it does not necessarily require an attorney’s degree to construct a simple will which is easy to understand and follow in order to ensure that the assets are distributed as they were intended to be among the family members.
However what if a person has a complicated or unknown scenario which only comes to light once the person has passed and they have not prepared a will? Or have prepared a Will which for some reason or another, such as it not being correctly witnessed, is invalid in the eyes of the law? The estate immediately considered as being intestate. Once a person’s possessions are intestate, the rules of intestacy apply. If that is the case then only married or civil partners, children and close relatives stand to benefit from the inheritance. The primary beneficiary is considered to be the husband, wife or civil partner (note: a civil partner differs from a “common law” partner).
Intestacy laws are there for substantially limiting and possibilities in life are infinite meaning that there are more scenarios under which a person may pass away, which cannot be covered by the rules governing wills. What is a parent has passed without a valid will and has 2 children, one estranged for decades and one who cared for that parent right throughout their life, up until they reached their death-bed, leaving that child cash-strapped due to the high costs of care and medicines, for the parent. By intestate law, both siblings would stand to inherit the estate equally and this is something, while difficult, that the parent would not necessarily want.
Wills can be drawn up quickly and inexpensively at any of our Wills Chertsey, Wills Guildford and Wills Ham offices of Lodge Brothers. Inquire today regarding your unique requirements for your will to ensure that your family members benefit properly from the distribution of your possessions and assets on your passing.
Is your Will up to date?
Posted by admin in Funeral Directors, Legal Services on March 19, 2018
Every person should have a will, only 30% of people in the UK have made a will, a will is where you state how you would like to distribute your property, name an executor, name guardians for children, distribute money and jewellery etc. Having a will also means that you, rather than the state, decide who gets your property when you die. Wills Guildford are typewritten legal documents that are signed and witnessed.
Don’t leave it until it’s too late to get a will drawn up by a probate attorney such as Lodge Brothers legal services.
A legally valid Will, carefully prepared by a qualified expert Solicitor, will ensure that:
- you provide for your loved ones in the way you wish;
- you choose the Executors who will administer your estate;
- you choose the Guardians for your minor children; and
- you can take steps to reduce the Inheritance Tax payable.
You can also choose to appoint Lodge Brothers Legal Services as the Executors of your Will. We will ensure that your estate is dealt with promptly and efficiently so that your loved ones do not have the responsibility but do receive their inheritance as quickly as possible.
Fixed fee for a single Will starting from £325 +VAT (£390 inc. VAT).
Fixed fee for mirror Wills starting from £500 +VAT (£600 inc. VAT).
All our fees are fixed and agreed in advance.
Contact us for more information, a free no obligation quote or initial advice for Wills Weybridge.