Making the best provision for your family or your business now and in the future requires careful financial planning.

Here at Coles Miller, we have an experienced team of solicitors and legal advisors, based in Poole, Bournemouth and Broadstone in Dorset, who specialise in matters associated with Wills and Probate.

We understand that dealing with these issues is often difficult and emotional, which is why we treat every case with sensitivity and care, and provide straightforward and practical advice.

We currently have active members of STEP [The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners] and Solicitors for the Elderly. We take the time to get to know you and your affairs so that we can advise you how best to achieve your aims. There are many provisions you can make now with a little time and effort to ensure your family is financially stable.

What we do...

Our lawyers offer expertise in all areas of wills and probate, including:

• Making a Will
• Inheritance Tax Planning
• Probate and Administration of Estates
• Personal Affairs
• Court of Protection
• Living Wills
• Trust Creation & Administration
• Charities
• Personal Taxation
• Disputed Wills
• Claims under the Inheritance Act
• Mental Health Receivership; Statutory Wills

If disputes arise about inheritance, we can advise you and, if it proves necessary, conduct litigation. Involving us at an early stage can avoid costly legal action, either through negotiation or by obtaining directions from the Court.

Making a Will

Coles Miller cannot stress enough the importance of making a Will. At the last count, a staggering 75% of people die without having made plans for the future of their property or possessions. Whilst many think that they will automatically go to their next of kin, it's unfortunately not that simple. Whatever the size of your estate, you should always leave a clear and legally binding statement of your wishes. Making a Will is the only way of guaranteeing that your wishes are respected after you have passed away. We can discuss with you the best way of ensuring that your intentions for your property, possessions and investments will be carried out should the worst happen to you. We believe your Will is one of the most important documents that you will ever sign and should be dealt with by specialist lawyers. We advise you on:

• Appointing executors and trustees to deal with your assets
• What provisions you need to consider for your children
• The best structure for your Will so as to minimise the amount of Inheritance Tax that will be payable on your estate
• What to do if you hold joint property or have a pension plan that pays death in service benefits

For a simple and hassle free way of ensuring your affairs are in order, we offer a special Fixed Fee Personal Affairs Package.

In addition to preparing your wills, we are able to offer an executorship service. Whereas you may have family and close friends with the time and expertise to carry out the functions of an executor, many people do not. We are happy to accept appointments as executors either as a firm, as individuals within the firm, or jointly with your friends or family.

Inheritance Tax Planning

In simple terms, inheritance tax is the tax payable on your estate when you die if the value of your estate exceeds a certain amount. Currently, inheritance tax is charged at 40% on the value of estates above the threshold (nil-rate band) of £300,000 [from 5th April 2008 this increases to £312,000], subject to any exemptions and relief that may be available. Your estate is basically the net value of everything you own - all your assets minus any debts. Without proper tax planning, many people can end up leaving a substantial tax liability on their death, considerably reducing the value of the estate passing to their family or chosen beneficiaries. Our dedicated specialists can review your financial position and offer expert advice on your options.

Probate & Administration of Estates

The loss of a loved one can be a difficult time and dealing with their estate is a personal and sensitive matter. We can guide you through the legal complications of administering estates, which can be an added burden at a time of bereavement. We offer a caring service and deal with all aspects of estate administration including obtaining a grant of probate and providing beneficiaries with advice on taxation matters.

Personal Affairs

As we grow older we often worry about what will happen to our personal and financial affairs and who will manage them if we become ill or have to go into hospital or a nursing home. There are various ways in which relatives and friends can be appointed to manage the personal and financial affairs of those who are incapable of looking after their own affairs.

Court of Protection

If an individual becomes mentally incapable of managing their own affairs, and they have not previously chosen someone to manage them on their behalf via a Power of Attorney, an application will have to be made to the Court of Protection to appoint such a representative. In these circumstances we can assist with your application and help ensure it is promptly processed to enable you to take over the management of the individual's affairs with the minimum of delay.

Living Wills

A Living Will, also known as an "advance directive", is a written document setting out the circumstances under which you would not want to receive life-prolonging medical treatment if you became seriously ill in the future and were incapable of making your own health care decisions. The formal document is prepared and signed by you before a witness and placed with your existing Will with copies being provided for you to retain and pass to your doctor. The benefit of the process is the knowledge that you have done everything possible to make your wishes known. A Living Will must be signed whilst the maker is mentally competent.

Trust Creation & Administration

Our Wills and Probate team can also advise on the management of trusts including responsibilities and power of trustees, dealing with legacies to minors, protecting assets from possible creditors and taxation of trusts. We also advise on the use of trusts for tax planning purposes.

Charities

We can offer advice on the very specialised law, which concerns the setting up and running of charities.

Personal Taxation

We also provide advice on taxation and individual arrangements, post divorce settlements and routine capital taxes planning.