- When you unexpectedly have to deal with the death of your best friend, the legal process of probate is somewhat daunting. Fortunately, from the very first phone call to Hedges, I knew I was in safe hands.
- Whilst working with Hedges Law, I felt considered and informed throughout. I believe that this personal service and strategy in recruiting the brightest but most engaging people is the firm's greatest strength.
- I've been engaging the services of Hedges Law for around six months. During that time, without exception, every member of staff I've worked with is A-Class.
- Hedges' client-first approach is admirable, and the promptness and dedication to the work that they do is unmatchable. I couldn't have asked for a better law firm.
- Thank you so much : you have been unfailingly brilliant in the face of some pretty stiff 'opposition'!
- My relief and endless gratitude to you for your hard work and sympathetic handling of my distress.
- I would like to say out loud that we were very impressed with the service you provided. Your attention has been second to none. Thank you.
- Working with Hedges has been a breath of fresh air in terms of helpfulness, efficiency and overall, extensive knowledge of the law.
- I will always be grateful to you and your firm for all the amazing support and advice. The way you rallied around us at such short notice on that day too was exceptional.
- Working with Hedges has enabled us to substantially better understand the strengths and weaknesses of our situation, based on the information available. As a result, our decision-making has been much better informed.
- Good legal advice comes naturally at Hedges Law but more importantly good client advice takes precedence.
- Hedges Law helped me understand and deal with a particularly difficult personal situation that came to me completely unexpectedly. Without Hedges’ professional help and guidance the outcome of my situation would not have been so positive. I believe I made the right decision in appointing Hedges Law and they would certainly be my first choice for any future legal advice.
- The people and personality of the business really stood out for me. I found everyone at Hedges Law easy to deal with and believed they genuinely understood my concerns. I quickly felt I could trust Hedges Law and this certainly helped to set my mind at ease during a difficult and confusing time.
- Hedges Law are an extremely professional Law Firm with highly skilled staff and expertise.
Conveyancing dream team! The team were helpful and knowledgable from the moment I contacted them to discuss the sale of my Dads house. Lisa and the team made the paperwork easy, communicated clearly and pro-actively throughout and kept me up to date at every stage... We went from marketing to completion in 6.5 weeks, which even with a cash buyer was a miracle and testament to the quality of the work of Lisa and the Hedges team- thank you! I can not recommend Lisa and Hedges enough, best experience I've ever had for house sale.
Trust, Wills and Probate
- Administering Estates - Procedures and Pitfalls A recent survey has shown that more than one in ten people who are thought to have died intestate (i.e. without leaving a will) may actually have made a will and that a similar number of those who leave a will which is initially believed to be the last will...
- Asset Valuation Problems - Chattels When dealing with an estate, an increasing problem for executors is the valuation of assets in the form of the chattels of the deceased. In probate terminology, chattels are the ‘everyday’ assets such as furniture and ordinary possessions, as...
- CGT and Shares in Estates Valuation Trap In the UK, there are quite generous exemptions from Inheritance Tax (IHT) which apply to business assets. One problem with making use of such exemptions is the effect this may have on the subsequent value of the relevant assets for Capital Gains Tax (CGT)...
- Changing Wills For Benefit A will expresses the final wishes of the deceased person and it is commonly thought that a will is irrevocable after death. However, provided everyone agrees, it is normally possible to vary a will provided that the application is made within two years of...
- Cohabitees and Death - Who Can Claim? When one member of a cohabiting couple dies, it can come as an unpleasant surprise to the bereaved partner to discover that not all of their late partner’s estate will pass to them in the absence of a will. It is only when this happens that many people...
- Dealing With an Insolvent Estate One of the rules that applies to the administration of estates is that whilst a person appointed as executor under a will can refuse to accept the appointment, once an executor ‘intermeddles’ in the estate, in principle he or she cannot then...
- Estates - What Happens if Values Fall? One of the biggest problems now facing executors is that assets can fall in value as well as increase, which can mean that the value of an estate for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes is greater than the market value later on. Where assets are disposed of at...
- Heir Hunters - Take Advice! Until the recent publicity afforded by television shows on the subject, many people might not have realised that ‘heir tracing’ companies exist, let alone that they research ‘promising’ estates by looking at public records and then...
- Helping Your Executors Being an executor is a demanding job at the best of times and a task that is made all the more difficult when the deceased has not given proper thought to the problems their executors will face. Here are some of the things you can do to make sure your...
- How do I Leave Money to Charity in My Will? It's easy to include a charity in your will, but you should always consult your solicitor before you write or change your will to be sure it reflects your exact intentions and that you understand its implications. Before you call your adviser, take a...
- Making Your Will - Guidance It is easy to keep putting off making a will. However, having a valid will is the only way to guarantee that your estate goes to who you want it to when you die. If a person dies having made a will, the distribution of their estate is normally...
- What Happens on Intestacy? The Inheritance and Trustees’ Powers Act came into force in late 2014. It changes intestacy law in England and Wales to allow a deceased's estate to pass to their widow, widower or civil partner absolutely where there are no children. The intestacy...
- What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? In October 2007 there was a fundamental change on the way in the way powers of attorney are created and the powers that they can give attorneys, when the Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) was replaced by the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). EPAs are no longer...
- What is a Trust? A trust comes into effect when a ‘settlor’ places money, land or other assets in the hands of trustees. The trustees are the legal owners of the property but are obliged to hold and manage the property for the benefit of a person or a group of...
- Who is Under the Influence? The law recognises that some people (such as solicitors or accountants) have a high degree of influence over other people (their clients), since clients hire their professional advisers for the specific purpose of giving advice. However, it is not normally...