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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

    The Residence Nil Rate Band

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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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    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

    Partner

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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 Estate Solicitors Insights

    Seminar: Beat the inheritance tax trap

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    Sam Dale

    Disabled Persons Trust

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

    Thank you so much for all your help with my late mum’s will and subsequent deeds with regard to the children. I very much appreciate your professional and empathetic handling of what is, by nature, a difficult situation for the deceased’s relatives.

    B L

    Excellent and efficient service from Helen and the team. Always quick to respond and takes time to explain things thoughtfully. Thank you!

    Mrs L

    Writing a Will is a little daunting for most of us, but I am very grateful to Ben Dabenport-Lawton and his team for their help and expertise when writing mine. Ben is helpful, knowledgable and professional and I am very grateful for his help and guidance. The reception staff are friendly and helpful and put you at ease. All in all, a first-class service. Highly recommended.

    Mrs P Cox

    Positive and helpful for me and my sister.

    Mr T Chalmers

    Writing a Will is a little daunting for most of us but I am very grateful to Ben Davenport-Lawton and his team for their help and expertise when writing mine. Ben is helpful, knowledgeable and professional. I am very grateful for his help and guidance. The reception staff are friendly and helpful and put you at ease. All in all, a first class service. Highly recommended.

    Mrs P Cox

    Phil Jennings at the Frodsham Office is just simply put, very good at his job. His expertise and experience mean that I feel I can trust his advice and ability to get the job done without fuss. He is always super helpful and accommodating, provides regular written updates and available in-person, on the phone or by video conference when I have needed to talk with him in more depth than can be covered in email.

    The Legal 500 2024 Rankings

    Chris Hopkins was approachable and sensible in matters which can sometimes be lead by the head or the heart. He played devils advocate to ensure options were considered which may not have been originally included in the structure.

    The Legal 500 Rakings

    Introduced through a wealth manager who had used the Firm previously for similar matters. Personally, I feel their strength is being able to navigate the complex area of inheritance planning for individuals in a family business structure. They were happy to attend meetings with other persons involved in tax and inheritance planning such as accountants and wealth management.

    The Legal 500 2024 Rankings

    Sam Dale was compassionate, understanding, knowledgeable and professional from the outset. I could not recommend Sam Dale and his team highly enough and would have no hesitation in using Sam or Butcher & Barlow again in the future.

    The Legal 500 2024 Rankings

    I engaged the Firm for my most recent dealings which included writing Wills, Probate and Estate queries and also a settlement deed for which Samuel Dale undertook all activity. Samuel is extremely professional, knowledgeable and efficient. He carried out all works to an extremely high standard, was easily contactable and provided impartial advice and guidance to me during an extremely difficult time.

    The Legal 500 2024 Rankings

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