Wills, Trust, Estate Planning and Probate Solicitors in Derby
Planning for the future is more than a legal task; it’s a way to protect and honour your life’s work and care for those you love.
Our expert wills and probate solicitors can help you plan your estate in a way that minimises tax and protects your wealth, for those you leave behind.
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How our specialist Wills and Probate solicitors in Derby can help
Our solicitor have the expertise and experience to help you will all aspects of estate planning. We can help you with;
- Will writing – Draft a will that ensures your loved ones receive what your want them to.
- Estate planning – Structure your estate in a way that minimises your tax liabilities and maximises how much your loved ones receive.
- Trusts – Protect your money, property and investments so you can pass them on to the next generation.
- Inheritance tax planning – subject to estates over £325,000, we can help you minimise the amount of inheritance tax your family has to pay when you’re gone.
- Lasting powers of attorney – Appoint a trusted person to look after your financial affairs and make decisions on your behalf if you lose your mental capacity.
- Deputyship – by becoming a deputy for your loved one, you are able to make those decisions on their behalf and ensure that their interests remain protected.
- Grant of probate – Property and assets are frozen until the probate registry authorizes an executor via a grant of probate. We can help you prepare your application.
- Contentious probate – We can help if you, a family member, or beneficiary feel that the executor of a will isn’t managing it properly or if someone contests a will.
- International probate – Owning assets in more than one country probate and estate administration very complex and time consuming. We can help
Why choose Rothera Bray for Wills and Probate?
Rothera Bray has significant experience and expertise in wills and probate. From creating wills and trusts to full estate planning to more complex matters like international probate.
After you get in touch with us, we will assigned a member of our private client team. They will provide a personal service and work with you to find out more about your situation and assets. We can then give you the best legal advice to your needs.
We’ll support and advise you from start to finish. You will be kept updated on progress at all times.
Several of our solicitors specialise in wills and probate. Some are members of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
We offer free will registration through Certainty, the National Will Register.
Where needed, we can draw on the experience of our Contentious Wills and Probate team in relation to wills, estates, trusts and Court of Protection disputes.
A network of independent financial advisors also works closely with us and we can refer you for financial advice
Advice can be given to help you reduce the amount of inheritance tax payable on your estate so your inheritance can go further.
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FAQs
It is important to make a will, regardless of how much money or assets you own. There are several reasons for this;
- If you die without a will, there are rules called the Rules of Intestacy’ that dictate how your money, assets and property is distributed. This might not be the way you want you want things to happen
- If you’re not married or in a registered civil partnership, you cannot inherit from each other unless you have a will. If one of you dies, it could cause serious financial problems for the other.
- If you have children, you need a will to make arrangements for them if one or both of you die. If you don’t, the courts will take responsibility over them until they can find a guardian.
- If you have assets that are subject to inheritance tax, a will could be a good way to reduce the amount of inheritance tax you pay.
- If your life or circumstances change, so might your wishes. For example, if you and your partner split up, you might want to write them out of an existing will.
Making a will is a very straightforward process. It is possible to create a Will yourself. However, there are certain requirements needed to ensure the document is legally binding. A Wills & Probate solicitor can ensure that these requirements are met so that your wishes and intentions are carried out.
If your estate and assets, or how you wish to divide them, are complex, then a solicitor can also help you draft a Will that achieves your wishes legally.
At Rothera Bray, we have a member of the Wills & Probate team available at each of our local Nottingham, Leicester and Derby branches.
Our solicitors can also visit you at your home or in hospital if you are unable to visit one of our offices.
Simply contact our team today to arrange an appointment.
We offer a straight-forward approach and our focus is on ensuring you have the right information and guidance.
A single, straightforward Will with no trusts costs £350 plus VAT or £600 plus VAT for Simple Mirror Wills and unlike many firms, this includes free registration with Certainty, the National Wills Register, saving you an additional £30 (incl. VAT) registration fee per Will.
Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. This involves:
- Identifying and valuing the deceased person’s assets and liabilities
- Paying off any debts and taxes owed by the estate
- Distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries named in the will
- If the deceased didn’t write a will, dividing those assets according to the rules of intestacy
- Carrying out the deceased person’s wishes as far as possible
A Trust is a legal way of protecting family assets.
You can transfer part of your estate to a trustee who is responsible for managing the trust before passing it on to the beneficiary when the time comes. This might be when they turn 18 for example.
The main benefit of a trust is their tax efficiency. Parents can transfer assets into a trust to to reduce the inheritance tax liability their children will be subject to.
Melissa Merry
Consultant
Melissa Merry is a Consultant in our Wills and Probate department, with over 30 years of experience in private client work. Melissa is based at our Derby city centre branch.
Laura Clare
Managing Associate
Laura Clare is a Managing Associate at Rothera Bray’s Derby office and specialises in advising clients in relation to Wills, Powers of Attorney, Inheritance Tax Planning and Estate Administrations and Trust Creation and Administrations.
Amelia Carruthers
Senior Associate Solicitor
Amelia Carruthers is a Senior Associate at Rothera Bray’s Derby office and is experienced in drafting wills, lasting powers of attorney, administering estates and providing tax advice and planning.
Amy Goodwin
Associate Solicitor
Amy Goodwin is an Associate in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate team and is based at our Derby office.
Lisa Warren
Senior Paralegal
Lisa Warren is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate team and is based in Derby.
Beth Ashton
Paralegal
Beth Ashton is a Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Wills and Probate department and is based at our Derby Office.
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Posted 11 August 2026
Excellent service with the drawing up of our will. Talita Fantauzzi was a great help, simply explaining the whole process and our options. Made a daunting task a simple and pleasurable experience.
Martin Nesbitt
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Posted 7 August 2026
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nelissa at Rothera Bray in Loughborough. She has the ability to make complicated issues understandable, to enable you to consider options and reach a decision (we were completing our wills and updating a Deed of Trust). Additionally Nelissa is very thorough, approachable and efficient, producing our documents within days. Nelissa feels like ‘a safe pair of hands’ .
Sandra Simpson
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Posted 7 August 2026
Talita Fantauzzi provided a five star client experience when rewriting our wills for us - she was very knowledgeable and helpful.
Martin & Glynis
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Posted 6 August 2026
Isabella & Nelissa were both superb in their handling of the Estate of my late mother. They gave helpful advice with regular updates & quick responses to questions asked. They are without a doubt professional & proficient in what they do. I have no hesitation in recommending them & the firm of solicitors they represent, and will use them again in the future.
Shaun Gathercole
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Posted 29 July 2026
I did my will at Rothera Bray solicitors Beeston, Azeem was very professional, friendly and helpful. I would like to thank him and the rest of the team.
Raymond Handley
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Posted 29 July 2026
My experience working with Rothera Bray and in particular Nelissa was outstanding. I felt very supportive at a very difficult time, they showed compassion and empathy throughout the process. They made me feel like I could ask any question without feeling stupid and provided clear guidance and communication.
Sharon Dunstan
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Posted 17 July 2026
We had a great experience with Rothera Bray Solicitors in West Bridgford when getting our wills sorted. Talita was extremely professional throughout, taking the time to clearly explain all our options and making sure we understood the implications of each decision. She made what could have been a stressful process feel straightforward and stress-free. Highly recommend for anyone needing wills advice. Thank you Talita.
Vanessa Caroli
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Posted 15 July 2026
I recently dealt with Toby Byford at Rothera Bray who set up a will Trust for my father’s will. He was extremely polite and helpful throughout. He always responded promptly and answered my questions very clearly and in easy to understand language. He was very reassuring and made the whole process very straightforward. Thank you Toby.
Caroline D
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Posted 10 July 2026
We were extremely satisfied with the service from Rothera Bray during the process of rewriting our Wills and Side letters. Our Wills are complex and our solicitor clarified the necessary changes and took the time needed to ensure we understood the legalities involved. The service was professional but friendly.
Bob and Yvonne Bundick
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Posted 9 July 2026
It’s lovely to deal with someone whom makes the process just so easy. Dealing with Talita at Rothera Bray was an absolute pleasure . Very professional and thorough.
Will client
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Posted 6 July 2026
Thank you to everyone for all your help over a long period of time. Your mannerism and efficiency to solve each issue was most impressive. I have recommended your services to others .What was going on in the background certainly tested my patience and you kept the ship running smoothly.
Daniel P
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Posted 17 June 2026
I can say that my experience has been a pleasure working with you and Rothera Bray. Thank you, and your work is excellent and I am grateful to you for it.
Mrs Clewes
People Focus: Rebecca Lee – Wills & Probate
Meet Associate Solicitor Rebecca Lee, from our Wills and Probate department based at our Leicester office. Getting into law was sparked by family influences and the stories she heard. Here, she shares a look at her career so far, from standout achievements to the hobbies and causes that mean the most to her.
Financial and tax traps in your Will that most people miss
A Will isn’t only about who gets what. It’s also about how tax is managed, how gifts are paid, and what happens if circumstances change. Many people unknowingly include provisions that create unexpected tax bills or complications for their executors.
Practical considerations in your Will that make your estate easier to administer
A Will can be perfectly drafted on paper but fail in practice if key details are overlooked. From funeral wishes to choosing the right executors, practical planning makes a huge difference to how smoothly your estate is administered.
Major life events that can impact your Will
Most people assume a Will is something you take care of once and then forget about. But certain life events can dramatically change how your Will works or even invalidate it entirely.