Your questions, answered in plain English

Estate planning means putting legal arrangements in place to protect your home, your assets and your family, both during your lifetime if you lose capacity and after you pass away. It helps make sure your wishes are carried out and can spare your loved ones unnecessary stress, delays and costs.

Life changes: marriage, divorce, children, buying property, illness. Planning early means suitable arrangements are already in place, and can be reviewed as your circumstances change.

DIY Wills, or relying on the rules of intestacy, can lead to disputes, delays, tax issues or assets passing to the wrong people. We provide professional guidance so your documents are valid and structured to protect your family home and savings.

We work with clients across England and Wales. We offer face-to-face consultations, including in the comfort of your own home, as well as online appointments.

A Will is the only way to make sure your wishes are carried out. Without one, the rules of intestacy decide who inherits, and that may not be what you would want. Unmarried partners, stepchildren and friends can be left out entirely, and the lack of clear instructions can lead to disputes and delays.

Mirror Wills usually leave everything to the surviving partner. That can leave the whole estate exposed to third-party claims, the risks of remarriage, or a later change of Will. Many homeowners benefit from Wills that include a protective trust instead.

Review your Will every 3–5 years, or after any major life change, such as marriage, divorce, a new relationship, buying or selling property, or the birth of a child or grandchild.

An out-of-date Will is more likely to be challenged, could leave children without appointed guardians, and could even allow a child’s ex-partner to benefit after a divorce. Keeping your Will up to date means it always reflects your current wishes.

You can, but mistakes in wording, signing or witnessing can make a Will invalid or open to challenge. Having your Will professionally prepared means it is legally sound and reflects your true wishes.

No. A Will does not have to be prepared by a solicitor. Professional guidance helps you avoid errors and make sure your Will covers everything important, from guardians for your children to inheritance tax planning. At Coal & Kin, we make the process clear, simple and tailored to you.

The best time is now. Whether you’ve just bought a home, started a family or are planning for retirement, having a Will in place gives you peace of mind that your loved ones are provided for, whatever happens.

A trust written into your Will that ring-fences your share of the family home, usually 50%, for your chosen beneficiaries, typically your children. It helps protect against “sideways disinheritance”, for example if a surviving partner remarries, as well as certain third-party claims.

With a Property Protection Trust in your Will, nothing changes during your lifetime. You can still live in your home, move or downsize. With a lifetime trust, you can usually act as a trustee and continue living in your home. We’ll explain exactly how control works for your circumstances.

Trusts can form part of wider inheritance tax planning, depending on the value of your estate and your circumstances. We’ll explain how allowances such as the nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band apply to you.

No.

• A simple Will only takes effect on death and passes assets outright, with no added protection.
• A Property Protection Trust Will ring-fences your share of the home, usually 50%, after the first death.
• A Family Asset Protection Trust (a lifetime trust) can hold your whole home and other assets in trust during your lifetime.

A Will covers what happens after you die. LPAs protect you while you are alive, if you become unable to make decisions because of an accident, illness or loss of mental capacity.

Anyone aged 18 or over who has mental capacity. Most people choose close family members or trusted friends.

Yes. You can appoint several attorneys and choose whether they must act together or can act independently.

An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. A Property & Financial Affairs LPA can then be used straight away with your permission, while a Health & Welfare LPA can only be used if you lack capacity to make the decision yourself.

If you lose capacity without an LPA, your family may have to apply to the Court of Protection. This is often costly and time-consuming, and the decisions made may not reflect your wishes.

Before you need it. Planning early means you decide who looks after your affairs, not the courts or the local authority.

Yes. As long as you have mental capacity, you can update or cancel your LPA at any time.

Not always. Smaller estates may not need probate, but most estates that include property or substantial assets will. We can help you work out whether probate is needed and guide you through the next steps.

Every estate is different, but the whole process often takes around 9–12 months, depending on its complexity. Experienced support can help avoid unnecessary delays.

You can, but probate can be time-consuming and legally complex, especially where property, tax or several beneficiaries are involved. Executors have a legal duty to manage the estate carefully and correctly, and expert guidance can reduce the stress at an already difficult time.

If someone dies without a Will (known as intestacy), their estate is divided according to strict legal rules, which may not reflect their wishes. We can support you through the process, helping to minimise confusion, delays and family disputes.

We offer clear, fixed-fee pricing based on your needs, with no hidden costs. You’ll always know the cost before any work starts. See our Price Guide.

Yes. We offer face-to-face consultations in the comfort of your own home, at a time that suits you, as well as online appointments.

Wills and LPAs can usually be finalised within a few weeks. Trusts involve more detailed planning and may take a little longer, depending on your circumstances.