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 15 May 2026
From start to finish, the process of completing our LPAs and rewriting our wills was handled with professionalism and courtesy.
C & J Whiting
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Posted 15 May 2026
Ed was efficient and professional for a matter that needed to be sorted reasonably urgently. He was incredibly accommodating for meetings and explained the procedure and meanings of things very well so that I was able to make clear and informed decisions about what was suitable for me and my partner. Thank you.
Aimee Crawford
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Posted 6 May 2026
Following the death of our mother, we sought advice, guidance, and help with the probate and potential inheritance tax processes... We were not disappointed. From start to finish, Nelissa Hicks and Rothera Bray solicitors have provided a super-professional and speedy service. We'd recommend anyone, regardless of position and requirements to your needs, engage with them at the earliest opportunity, as we will do so again in the future.
Trevor F
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Posted 1 May 2026
The whole process was a delight and I very much appreciate the professional, straight forward way in which you dealt with myself and my sister. May I thank you very much indeed for all your work in this matter and please be assured that Rothera Bray will be my first choice for any further matters of this nature.
Dr Gregg
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Posted 29 April 2026
Ed, thank you so much for your totally efficient service over this work and especially the speed with which you have turned everything around. You really have starred throughout. We are extremely grateful to you.
Trust clients
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Posted 24 April 2026
Dealt with in a very professional manner any queries were explained in detail and with the draft wills. A very likeable and personable young lady. Many thanks
Wills client
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Posted 24 April 2026
Excellent service, provided by Ed Granger. Ed’s professionalism, advise, knowledge and overall understanding of what we required was outstanding. The time line to complete the process was remarkable. We would not hesitate to recommend his services.
Will Soubry
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Posted 9 April 2026
Nelissa made the whole process of setting up our estate after we have gone so easy and dare I say, her style made the experience an enjoyable one for such a morbid topic. She has a brilliant way of explaining the complex in a very simple pictorial representation making it it easy to decide the next course of action for our family. Extremely efficient and diligent - she was a pleasure to work with.
Arran
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Posted 26 March 2026
I have used Rothera Bray formerly Bray & Bray on several occasions mainly for advice on Will writing. I have always had excellent and speedy advice and service particularly from Amanda White. I would thoroughly recommend this company.
Richard Goodwin
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Posted 24 March 2026
The case was very complicated, and it was a great relief to know how to maintain the Trust in the future, thanks to Mr Byford leaving us relevant instructions after completing the case. Mr Byford provided me and my daughter professional support and guidance in friendly and informative manner during the meetings and in all communication.
Pirjo Gallagher
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Posted 19 March 2026
I have been dealing with Ed Granger to handle a Will and Trust Account. He has been extremely helpful and always took the time to explain the process and help me establish the Trust as per the wishes of the Will. Thank you Ed.
Don Hammond
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Posted 13 March 2026
I instructed Rothera Bray to draft a will on my behalf. My solicitor, Talita, was excellent. She provided clear and helpful advice. I would instruct again!
Will client
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.
Leaving a gift to charity in your Will
Leaving a gift to charity in your Will is a meaningful way to support causes close to your heart long after you’re gone. Whether you want to support medical research, animal welfare, education, or your local community, including a charitable gift in your Will can have a lasting impact.
People Focus: Eleanor Robinson – Wills and Probate
Meet Eleanor Robinson, Managing Associate Solicitor in the Wills and Probate department based at our West Bridgford office. She tells us why she chose to follow a career in law and what makes Rothera Bray different to other law firms.