Wills and probate solicitors Camden

Osbornes Law is a London law firm with offices in Camden and Hampstead. Our private client team holds the Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS) accreditation and is ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers HNW. We advise individuals and families across north London on wills, probate, estate planning, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and disputed estates.

Making a will

A will is the only way to ensure your estate passes to the people you choose. Without one, the laws of intestacy decide who inherits — and the result may not reflect your wishes or your family’s circumstances.

A valid will lets you appoint the executors who will administer your estate, name the beneficiaries who will inherit, provide for children or dependants, and reduce the inheritance tax your estate may owe. If you have young children, it also allows you to appoint guardians.

We advise on all aspects of making a will, including straightforward wills, mirror wills for couples, wills involving trusts, and wills with international elements where assets are held in more than one country. We will also advise you on whether your existing will remains appropriate if your circumstances have changed — following a marriage, divorce, or significant change in your financial position.

What happens without a will

Dying without a will (known as dying intestate) means your estate is distributed under the intestacy rules, which follow a fixed order of priority: spouse or civil partner first, then children, then more distant relatives. Unmarried partners, stepchildren, and close friends inherit nothing under intestacy, regardless of how long you have lived together or what you intended.

If you are cohabiting but not married or in a civil partnership, making a will is particularly important. Without one, your partner has no automatic right to inherit.

Probate and estate administration

When someone dies, their estate usually needs to go through probate — the legal process of valuing the estate, paying any inheritance tax owed, and obtaining a Grant of Probate before assets can be distributed.

Probate can be straightforward or complex depending on the size of the estate, whether inheritance tax is owed, and whether there are any disputes between beneficiaries. Key points to know:

• The standard inheritance tax nil-rate band is £325,000. Estates above this threshold are taxed at 40% on the amount above it
• If you leave your home to your children or grandchildren, the threshold can rise to £500,000 through the residence nil-rate band
• Where inheritance tax is owed, it must be reported to HMRC using form IHT400 before the Grant of Probate can be issued
• The executor named in the will is responsible for applying for probate and administering the estate

We act as solicitors for executors and administrators, guiding you through the process from valuation to final distribution. We can handle the full administration on your behalf or advise you on specific steps where you need support.

Inheritance tax planning

Careful planning can significantly reduce the inheritance tax your estate will owe. The earlier you take advice, the more options are available to you.

We advise on a range of tax-efficient strategies, including gifts and the use of the annual exemptions, trusts to hold assets outside your estate, charitable giving and the reduced 36% IHT rate it can attract, and business property relief and agricultural property relief where relevant. We work closely with financial advisers where an integrated approach to estate planning is needed.

Lasting Powers of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. There are two types: one covering property and financial affairs, and one covering health and welfare.

Without an LPA in place, your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection to manage your affairs — a slower and more expensive process. We recommend setting up LPAs alongside your will, while you have the capacity to do so.

Contentious probate and will disputes

Disputes over wills and estates are more common than many people expect, and they often arise at a time when families are already grieving. We act for claimants and defendants in a range of contentious probate matters, including:

• Challenges to the validity of a will on grounds of lack of mental capacity, undue influence, or fraud
• Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, where someone has been left inadequately provided for
• Disputes between executors and beneficiaries over the administration of an estate
• Removal of executors where they are failing to act properly

We approach these cases with care, recognising that the people involved are often dealing with grief and family conflict at the same time. Where possible, we resolve disputes through negotiation or mediation rather than court proceedings. For more information, see our contesting a will page.

Why choose Osbornes Law’s Camden wills and probate solicitors?

Our wills and probate solicitors hold the Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS) accreditation, awarded by the Law Society to firms that meet rigorous standards for client care and technical expertise in wills and estate administration. We are also ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers HNW, which assesses high-net-worth private client work independently through interviews with clients and peers.

Our offices in Camden and Hampstead mean we are well placed to advise individuals and families across north London, whether your needs are straightforward or complex.

Areas we cover

We advise clients across Camden and the surrounding area, including:

• NW1 (Camden Town, Regent’s Park, Marylebone)
• NW3 (Hampstead, Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage)
• NW5 (Kentish Town, Tufnell Park)
• NW6 (West Hampstead, Kilburn)
• NW8 (St John’s Wood)
• N1 (Islington, Angel, King’s Cross)
• N6 (Highgate)
• N7 (Holloway, Barnsbury)

If you are based elsewhere in London or across England and Wales, we can advise you remotely or in person at either of our offices.

Speak to a wills and probate solicitor in Camden

Call us on 020 7485 8811 or fill in the contact form below to arrange an initial conversation with one of our solicitors.

FAQ

Do I need a solicitor to make a will?

You do not legally need a solicitor to make a will, but a professionally drafted will is far less likely to be challenged or cause problems for your executors. Errors in a homemade will — such as incorrect witnessing or ambiguous wording — can result in the will being invalid or create disputes between beneficiaries. We recommend taking legal advice, particularly if your estate is complex or your family circumstances are not straightforward.

How much does it cost to make a will with a solicitor?

Costs depend on the complexity of your circumstances. A straightforward single or mirror will is typically a fixed-fee service — we will give you a clear quote before any work begins. More complex wills involving trusts, international assets, or tax planning will cost more. We offer transparent pricing so there are no surprises.

Do I need probate for every estate?

Not always. Smaller estates, jointly owned assets that pass automatically to a surviving spouse, and assets held in trust may not require a full Grant of Probate. Whether probate is needed depends on the size and nature of the estate. We can advise you on whether probate is required and, if so, handle the application on your behalf.

How long does probate take?

A straightforward estate with no inheritance tax liability and no disputes typically takes four to six months from the application for the Grant of Probate to final distribution. More complex estates — particularly those with inheritance tax to pay, multiple properties, or overseas assets — take longer. Disputed estates can take considerably more time if court proceedings are involved.

What is the inheritance tax threshold?

The standard nil-rate band is £325,000. Estates valued above this are taxed at 40% on the amount above the threshold. If you leave your home to your children or grandchildren, an additional residence nil-rate band of up to £175,000 applies, taking the potential threshold to £500,000 for individuals and up to £1 million for married couples or civil partners passing assets between them.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. There are two types: a property and financial affairs LPA and a health and welfare LPA. You must have mental capacity at the time you sign the LPA — you cannot put one in place after capacity is lost.

Can I contest a will?

Yes. Grounds for challenging a will include lack of mental capacity at the time it was made, undue influence, fraud or forgery, and failure to comply with formal requirements. You can also make a claim under the Inheritance Act 1975 if you were financially dependent on the deceased but were not adequately provided for. These claims are time-sensitive — contact us as soon as possible if you think you have grounds to challenge a will.

What happens if someone dies without a will?

If someone dies without a will, their estate is distributed under the intestacy rules. A surviving spouse or civil partner inherits the first £322,000 of the estate outright, along with all personal possessions. Anything above that is shared equally between the spouse and any children. Unmarried partners, stepchildren, and friends inherit nothing under intestacy. We can advise the estate’s administrator on the process and help resolve any disputes that arise.