How it all began
I started my legal career 10 years ago as a legal secretary working across various departments covering Matrimonial law, Conveyancing and Wills and Probate.
I then completed my Training Contract and qualified into Wills and Probate.
Why Wills & Probate?
I chose Wills and Probate because I get to help families who are going through a difficult and emotional time after the death of a loved one. It is a challenging time for people as they deal with their grief and trying to understand what needs to be done to administer an estate. I offer clarity and legal advice through this challenging time to try and make matters as easy as possible for grieving family and friends.
I can also prepare individuals so that they can get their affairs in order when preparing a Will or by preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney, to make matters easier for their friends and family to deal with.
What services do I offer?
Wills
By making a Will you can decide who administers your estate, these are called Executors. You can also decide who is responsible for the care of any minor children by appointing a guardian.
A Will allows you to decide who inherits your money and assets. There is also provision for you to include funeral wishes. If you die without making a Will then the law sets out who will inherit from your estate, under a set of rules called ‘the Rules of Intestacy’, which may not be what you want or intend.
Asset Protection
It is possible to protect assets from the effects of either your surviving spouse or partner remarrying, or from the effects of long-term care by including a trust in your Will.
Trusts can further be included to provide for children from previous relationships or if you have vulnerable beneficiaries such as a child with a mental of physical disability.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
These are documents which are made during your lifetime whilst you have capacity. It allows you to appoint someone you trust as your ‘attorney’ to make decisions on your behalf, should you become physically or mentally incapable of making such decisions yourself.
There are two types of Lasting Powers of Attorney, one which deals with your ‘Property and Finances’ and another which deals with your ‘Health and Welfare’.
Court of Protection
Where someone has lost mental capacity, and they have not made a Lasting Power of Attorney, an application can be made to the Court of Protection for a ‘deputyship order’ whereby the court appoints a deputy to act on your behalf to make decisions regarding your property and finances.
Administration of Estates
Following the death of a loved one, their estate will need to be dealt with. I can assist with obtaining the Grant of Probate/ Letters of Administration (where someone has died without leaving a will) or I can deal with the administration of the estate from start to finish.
Costs
At Timms we offer fixed fee and hourly rate options, so we will discuss what is best suited to your needs when you come and see us and before we undertake any work.
Get in touch
If you require advice regarding Wills, Probate, Administration of Estates, Powers of Attorney, Deputyships or Trusts please contact Megan Lovell on 01530 564498 or m.lovell@timms-law.com
For more information about writing or updating a Will, visit our webpage here.
