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Wills, Trusts and Estate Solicitors

At Butcher & Barlow, we understand the importance of planning for your future. We also understand that few people are comfortable thinking about their own mortality and consequently the conversation is difficult to begin. However, once started, that conversation can be a much easier than anticipated and with our guiding hand, you’ll find peace of mine in knowing that your loved ones are protected and provided for.

Our Private Client Team looks after the affairs of individual clients and trustees throughout the North West, from the young couple about to purchase their first house together, to business owners wanting to ensure that their business retains its value after their death. We can help to plan and manage all aspects of your finances, including Wills and Probate, Trusts, and Tax matters, both in life and on death.

We aim to get to know you and your objectives so that we can provide detailed, common-sense legal advice as well as practical assistance, tailored to your situation and needs. With branches across Cheshire and Manchester, our team are all highly-trained and well-regarded to always ensure your matter is dealt with expertly.

Our team are on hand to support you and your family when you need us. If you would like to arrange an appointment, whether by video, telephone of in person, to discuss your requirements, please get in touch with any member of our team. Alternatively, complete our enquiry form we will call you back as soon as possible.

How can we help you?

Whether your situation is simple or complicated, we will listen to your needs and provide tailored advice on the best way to ensure that your loved ones are protected and provided for. You will know what our fees will be from your very first appointment, and there will be no hidden charges for storing or releasing your Will.

If your circumstances change, so too may your needs and requirements in respect of your Will. Marriage revokes a Will so it is vitally important to revisit your Will if you are about to tie the knot.

 

 

We can ensure that your estate is set up in the most tax efficient way, whilst still ensuring that your personal requirements are met and your assets pass to those that you wish to benefit.

Trusts are often used for tax planning purposes as well as the protection of assets for future generations of the family. If our team think this is the best route for you, we will ensure that you fully understanding how a Trust operates, and the benefits which may be obtained as a result of having a Trust in place.

When a loved one passes away, you may be faced with the task of acting as their executor or administrator to deal with their affairs. We understand the stress that this adds to an already difficult and emotional time, especially if you have not received the right advice and support to guide you through the daunting process.

Our Team aims to provide a responsive and proactive service to ensure that the wishes of your loved ones are respected and carried out whilst also making the process as simple and straightforward as possible.

We offer a range of services, tailored to your specific needs, from simply obtaining the Grant of Probate, through to advising on and dealing with a range of tax issues and dealing with the full estate administration, including the calculation and settlement of any Inheritance Tax liability.

For information on our pricing, click here.

As we get older our thoughts often turn to what the future may hold and in particular the possibility of requiring some sort of care services. We provide advice as to the way that the care funding system works, what exemptions are available and the best way to ensure that your assets are protected or maintained for the longest period possible.

Our Dispute Resolution Team can assist with a disputes relating to complex trusts, agricultural arrangements, insolvent estates, actions to the Probate Registry, Court of Protection claims and Inheritance Act disputes. Our focus is on reaching a resolution and we will always explore all options for Alternative Dispute Resolution before deciding whether or not it is necessary to commence court proceedings. Click her to read more

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    Wills

    The Will writing process

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    Wills

    Choosing an Executor

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    Probate

    The probate process

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    Probate

    The Intestacy Rules explained

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    Probate

    Applying for probate: what you need to know

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    Probate

    Probate sales: What executors need to know

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    Tax & Succession Planning

    Gifting property: What you need to know

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    Tax & Succession Planning

    Don’t make HMRC your biggest beneficiary

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    an image of someone signing a trust deed close up

    A Guide to Setting up a Trust

    When many of us think of a trust, we would be forgiven for first thinking of large sums of money...

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    Chris Hopkins

    Partner

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    Tim Bailey

    Tim Bailey

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    Sam Dale

    Samuel Dale

    Partner

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    Meet the
    Wills, Trusts and Estate Team

    Our people are what makes Butcher & Barlow what it is. Each one of our team is committed to building a solid, long-lasting working relationship with our clients across Bury, Manchester and Cheshire.

    Wills, Trusts and Estates Solicitors Insights

    What our clients say about our Wills, Trusts and Estates Solicitors Service

    Many thanks for your attention to produce our Wills and Powers of Attorney. We have appreciated the professionalism and kindness of all the staff we have met during this process. Chris helped our decision making greatly and spent time ensuring not only that we understood but also that it was ok to change our minds half way through the process. The fees are very reasonable and everything was completed in a timely fashion.

    Jane and John Williams

    I found Helen both patient and informative throughout. Helen everything clearly and was also very friendly. It is comforting to know I am in safe hands. I would not hesitate in using Helen again and recommending her. Many thanks.

    L Reid

    Helen has finalised my Will under the Will Aid scheme and I am delighted with the service she has given me. The procedure went through very smoothly and I will certainly use Butcher & Barlow again. Thank you very much.

    A Renshaw

    The family want to thank Tim for the way that he handled the situation when my wife, Kathleen, was really poorly. He was very slow and gentle and explained everything to her at the time - he was first class. I wouldn't go anywhere else.

    J Lunness

    We have nothing but praise for Butcher & Barlow and for Helen Chadderton particularly. Helen drafted our Wills and patiently guided us through the process explaining each clause and making sure we understood their meaning. Following some fine tuning we signed our Wills and left their office feeling very happy that with Helen's help, we had done all we could to protect our family. We would happily recommend Butcher & Barlow to anyone thinking of making a Will.

    Jim and Marilyn

    I was most impressed and grateful for the service I received drafting a new Will, from the telephone calls to the visit of Mr Hopkins to my home. Thank you.

    A Wright

    Sometimes solicitors language is difficult to understand. Helen helped us understand all the options and additional important things to consider whilst explaining simply. Helen was also very tactful in offering help when my husband was struggling to fill in dates. The staff in the office are always very friendly and make us most welcome. Any email or telephone questions are always answered promptly.

    L Kelly

    Our experience of the service we received from Butcher & Barlow is that it is second to none. Helen Chadderton helped us to prepare our Wills with kindness, patience, tact and the utmost clarity. She knew that it would take time and thought to get our Wills exactly as we wanted them and helped us towards this end at every stage. This had meant my husband and I are utterly satisfied with the end result in each case. Moreover, what could have been an onerous task became a happy experience. It wasn't an expensive one either. We both thought that we received excellent value for our money. We would recommend the Firm unreservedly, with particular reference to the careful and attentive work of Helen Chadderton.

    S Tyson

    Our appointment was arranged with Sophie, initially reading matters of Probate for my Late Mum, then to renew and update my Will and that of my wife. Sophie was courteous and understanding, and advised us on the steps to be taken. Probate has been granted in record time, in proof that all preliminary works have been completed correctly and efficiently by Sophie. Our Wills are more complex than a standard persons and involve trading companies and building assets. Sophie and Jade advised us in a proper and legal way including issues we had not taken into consideration. We will definitely work with members of Butcher & Barlow again with any issues of a legal/personal nature.

    Mr and Mrs Baines

    Some time ago we made inquiries regarding having Wills made up for the both of us. We inquired with Butcher & Barlow, who promptly invited us to their office for an in-depth chat and to get the ball rolling. Sophie went through the ins and outs, and after just a couple of weeks we had our Wills signed and witnessed. Soon after, our copies were sent to us. Butcher & Barlow offer a great service and resulted in us being totally satisfied in having an important issue completed professionally.

    Brian and Cathy

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