12/11/2025
It can be difficult to think about what might happen if you’re ill or no longer around. However, ensuring you have the proper legal documentation in place offers valuable protection for you and your loved ones and provides much-needed peace of mind.
As everyone’s personal circumstances and financial situations differ, it is advisable to seek specialist legal advice from a private client solicitor to ensure your estate planning strategy is tailored to your needs.
At Russell & Russell, our specialist Wills and Probate solicitors in the North West have extensive experience of will writing, probate, asset management and powers of attorney.
We help individuals and families with estate planning, carefully considering your personal situation and objectives before advising you on the most tax-efficient structures and legal solutions.
For more information about our estate planning legal services, call us on 0800 103 2600 or click here to request a callback.
Estate Planning Solicitors North West
While estate planning is not one-size-fits-all, certain legal documents benefit everyone.
1. Will.
A Will is a legal document that sets out what happens to your money, property and possessions (your estate) after your death.
Making a valid Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are followed and your loved ones are taken care of when you pass away.
If you die without a Will, your estate will be divided according to the rules of intestacy. These rules set out a strict hierarchy as to who inherits, which may not be the people you wish.
While a Will is a crucial legal document for everyone, it is especially important for cohabiting couples, who lack the inheritance rights of married couples and civil partners and do not automatically inherit under intestacy rules.
Using a solicitor to draft your Will ensures it is comprehensive and correctly drafted, minimising the chance of any issues for your loved ones later on.
Anyone aged 18 and over can – and should – make a Will.
2. Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that gives someone else (an ‘attorney’) the right to act for you and make decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to.
There are two types of power of attorney:
- LPA for Property and Financial Affairs.
- LPA for Health and Welfare.
You can choose to make one or the other, though ideally everyone should have both.
It is important to remember that a power of attorney can only be set up while you’re of sound mind. While some people put off making an LPA, thinking that it is just for older people, LPAs are relevant to individuals of all ages.
Capacity is not just lost through dementia. Accidents can happen at any time, and an LPA acts as a valuable safeguard to protect against any unforeseen events.
Making a Property and Financial Affairs LPA means you appoint someone you trust to make decisions about things like:
- Managing bank accounts.
- Paying bills.
- Collecting benefits.
- Buying or selling property.
3. Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare.
A Health and Welfare LPA allows you to choose a trusted individual (or individuals) to make decisions about your medical care. This includes choices about:
- Your daily routine.
- Medical treatment.
- Living arrangements.
When making decisions on your behalf, an attorney must always act in your best interests. Making an LPA in good time also means that you can talk to your attorneys about your wishes and communicate your preferences.
While it is possible to set up a Power of Attorney yourself, the forms can be confusing, and it is easy to make mistakes. Instructing a solicitor to help means you benefit from their legal expertise, ensuring your LPA is completed correctly.
Private Client Solicitors Near Me
At Russell & Russell, our private client team offers high-quality advice in all areas of estate planning, tailored specifically to your needs.
We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and accredited by the Law Society’s Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme, which sets the benchmark for best practice and transparency in providing wills and estate planning services.
Moreover, all our Wills and Probate team are qualified members of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, an independent organisation of legal advisers who provide specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers. The department is also a dementia-friendly business.
For more information or to speak to the team, please call 0800 103 2600 or make an online enquiry.
Please note that this article is meant as general guidance and not intended as legal or professional advice. Updates to the law may have changed since this article was published.
Please note that this article is meant as general guidance and not intended as legal or professional advice. Updates to the law may have changed since this article was published.