Wills & Probate Manchester |
Fixed Fee Estate Law
Wills & Probate Services — The Complete UK Guide
Planning what happens to your estate after death, and putting protections in place while you’re alive, are among the most important legal decisions you’ll make. A will ensures your assets go where you intend. A lasting power of attorney appoints someone you trust to act if you lose capacity. Probate is the process that administers the estate when someone dies. And a trust can protect vulnerable beneficiaries or minimise inheritance tax.
At Pacific Law, we help individuals and families across the UK navigate these matters at fixed fees agreed upfront — no surprises, no hourly billing. Our private client team covers wills, LPAs, probate services and will trusts from our Manchester base, serving clients remotely throughout Great Britain.
Why Put Estate Planning in Place?
Without a will, your estate is distributed under intestacy rules — statutory formulas that ignore your actual wishes. If you’re unmarried but living together, your partner could receive nothing. If you have children under 18, they inherit directly without protection. If you own property jointly, the survivor inherits automatically, bypassing your intended beneficiaries.
These outcomes aren’t hypothetical. They happen every day to people who thought they’d get round to making a will later. Later never came.
Beyond distribution, a properly drafted will addresses:
- Who becomes guardian for minor children
- When beneficiaries receive their inheritance (age thresholds, staged payouts)
- How debts and taxes are paid
- Whether trusts are created to protect vulnerable heirs
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) complements your will by protecting you while you’re alive. Without one, losing capacity means your family must apply to the Court of Protection — a months-long, expensive process that often leaves them powerless during an emergency.
Probate, meanwhile, is the legal gateway to administering the estate. Even with a perfect will, you still need a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration to access bank accounts, sell property and distribute assets. Our team guides you through the process — partnering with regulated firms where a Grant is required.
What Is a Will?
A will (formally, a “Last Will and Testament”) is a legal document setting out how you want your estate distributed after death. It takes effect only upon death, and can be amended or revoked while you have mental capacity.
Types of Wills We Draft
| Type | Best For | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Single Will | Individuals wanting a straightforward plan | £199.00 |
| Mirror Wills | Couples in relationships, near-identical provisions | £249.00 pair |
| Joint Will | Couples wanting one combined document (not revocable after first death) | Quoted |
| Mirror Wills with Trust | Couples wanting property protection on second death | Quoted |
| Mutual Wills | Couples agreeing not to change wills after one death (legally binding) | £349.00 |
| Living Will | Advance medical treatment decisions (advance decisions to refuse treatment) | Included with Single Will |
A simple will typically covers:
- Appointment of executors (the people administering your estate)
- Beneficiaries and specific gifts
- Guardians for minor children
- Residuary estate (everything remaining after specific gifts)
- Signature and witnessing requirements
More complex situations — such as blended families, significant wealth, business ownership, or overseas assets — may benefit from trusts built into the will structure.
What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a document appointing one or more people (called “attorneys”) to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity. There are two types:
LPA Health and Welfare — Covers medical treatment, daily care, and where you live. Can include refusing specific treatments (e.g. life-sustaining treatment).
LPA Property and Financial Affairs — Covers bank accounts, bills, property sales, investments and tax returns. Can be used while you have capacity if you choose.
Both should ideally be in place — not just one. The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) registers all LPAs in England and Wales; registration fee is currently £82 per LPA, payable directly to the government.
Why LPAs Matter More Than You Think
According to the Legal Services Board’s 2026 consumer tracker, only 32% of adults over 55 compare providers for power of attorney services. Most people underestimate the urgency until capacity is lost — at which point it’s too late to create one.
The process is straightforward:
- Meeting to take instructions and identify your attorneys
- Draft preparation and your review
- Submission to the Office of the Public Guardian for registration
- Registration typically completes within 8–12 weeks
Our private client lawyers prepare and register LPAs from £299.99 (excluding the OPG fee), with the whole process handled from instruction to registration confirmation.
What Is Probate?
Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. The term has two meanings:
Grant of Probate — Where the deceased left a valid will, the executor applies to the Probate Court for a Grant of Probate. This grants legal authority to administer the estate.
Estate Administration — The ongoing work of collecting assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing to beneficiaries. This can last many months, sometimes years for complex estates.
If there is no valid will, the process is similar but called Letters of Administration. The nearest relatives apply to become administrators rather than executors.
The Probate Timeline
| Stage | Typical Duration |
|---|---|
| Application for Grant of Probate | Up to 8 weeks |
| Collecting assets and valuing the estate | 1–3 months |
| Paying Inheritance Tax and debts | 1–2 months |
| Distributing to beneficiaries | Variable, depends on complexity |
For straightforward estates, our partner regulated firms handle the Grant application while we advise on administration and distribution. Our fees are transparent throughout: we quote fixed percentages upfront, typically 2.5% of the gross estate value for administration support.
What Are Will Trusts?
A trust within a will allows you to defer when and how beneficiaries receive their inheritance. Instead of a lump sum at death, the trustee holds and manages the funds according to your instructions.
Common trust structures include:
Interest-in-Possession Trust — Beneficiary A receives income for life; capital goes to Beneficiary B on A’s death. Useful for protecting a surviving spouse’s income while preserving capital for children from a previous relationship.
Discretionary Trust — Trustees have discretion over how much each beneficiary receives and when. Ideal for protecting vulnerable beneficiaries, young adults prone to overspending, or inheritance tax planning.
Bare Trust (Absolute Trust) — Simplest form; beneficiary gains immediate rights to assets at age 18. Minimal control once set up.
Trusts have tax implications: income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax may all apply depending on structure and value. We coordinate with tax advisers where needed to ensure your will trusts serve both your personal and fiscal objectives.
What Is a Codicil to a Will?
A codicil is a formal amendment to an existing will, used when circumstances change slightly — changing an executor, adding a gift, or updating a beneficiary address. It must be witnessed and stored with the original will.
For major changes, it’s usually simpler to execute a new will rather than accumulate codicils. Our fixed price for a codicil starts from £149.00.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will?
Dying “intestate” means your estate is distributed according to statutory rules under the Administration of Estates Act 1925. Key consequences:
- Unmarried partners receive nothing automatically, regardless of relationship length
- Children inherit directly at 18, with no protection or conditions
- Blended families see stepchildren excluded entirely
- Property may pass to distant relatives rather than the surviving partner
- Business owners risk forcing unwanted partnerships on co-owners
Intestacy rules don’t account for modern family structures, tax planning, or protective trusts. A properly drafted will is the only way to override these default provisions.
How Much Do Wills & Probate Services Cost?
We believe transparency beats hourly billing. Here are our indicative fixed fees:
| Service | Starting From |
|---|---|
| Single Will | £149.00 |
| Mirror Wills (pair) | £249.00 |
| Lasting Power of Attorney | £299.99 (plus OPG fee) |
| Codicil to Will | £149.00 |
| Living Will (Advance Decision) | Quoted |
| Probate administration support | 2.5% of gross estate value |
For probate, we partner with trusted regulated firms for Grant of Probate applications where regulation is required. Our fees remain fixed, and we ensure transparency throughout — the probate process doesn’t have to mean open-ended legal costs.
Our Private Client Process
- Fixed-fee quote. Written confirmation before any work begins.
- Instruction meeting. We take your instructions and draft your documents.
- Review and execution. You review the draft, we incorporate changes, then sign and witness.
- Registration or storage. We handle OPG registration for LPAs, or store your completed will securely.
Typical turnaround: first drafts within 7 working days, completion within 2–3 weeks from instruction.
Wills & Probate FAQs
How much does a solicitor cost to write a will?
Solicitors typically charge £150–£300+ per hour for will writing, with a single will costing £150–£350 at most firms. Pacific Law offers a different model: fixed fees from £149.00 for a codicil, agreed before work begins. No hourly billing, no surprises.
Do I need a solicitor for probate?
Applying for a Grant of Probate is a reserved legal activity, meaning only regulated professionals can handle the application. We partner with trusted firms for the Grant process while we continue advising on estate administration.
How much does a will cost UK?
Traditional will-writing solicitors charge £150–£400 for a simple single will, with couple/mirror wills from £250–£600. Pacific Law offers fixed fees from £149 for a codicil, £249 for mirror wills — transparent pricing confirmed before any work begins.
What happens if you die without a will UK?
Your estate is distributed under intestacy rules. Unmarried partners receive nothing. Children inherit at 18 with no protection. Blended families lose out. Business interests can force unwanted partnerships. These outcomes are statutory — a will overrides them.
How long does probate take?
Obtaining a Grant of Probate typically takes up to 8 weeks. Full estate administration — collecting assets, paying debts, distributing to beneficiaries — can last 6–12 months for average estates, longer for complex situations involving property, business interests or disputes.
Do you work with clients outside Manchester?
Yes. While based in Manchester, our private client services are conducted remotely for clients across the UK and internationally. Meetings can be arranged by telephone or video call.
Ready to Protect Your Legacy?
Call 0800 066 2219 or email us for a fixed-fee quote. Whether you need a simple will, full estate planning, or probate support, we’re here to help.