Executor and trustee company

Executors are the people who deal with your estate on death. They value assets, report to the Revenue, collect in the assets and then distribute to the beneficiaries.

VWV can offer clients the services of a professional Executor and Trustee Company. The company can act in the role of executor in your estate, removing the stress for family members of dealing with often complex financial matters at a difficult time. The appointment of a professional company can also help to reduce the risk of disputes between executors and beneficiaries where there are conflicts of interest. Two partners in the firm act as directors at any time and in this way continuity is ensured and there is no risk that your estate will be left without an executor.

Our partners also have considerable experience in acting as court-appointed independent administrators of complex and disputed estates.

Estate administration

VWV also provide advice to executors in dealing with the estate of a deceased person, guiding them on their obligations, rights and duties. We have a large team, led by five partners who can offer advice on a wide range of estates including high value estates with complex assets. We can assist with the completion of inheritance tax forms and can provide guidance on the most tax efficient administration of the estate we can also prepare the estate accounts which the executors are obliged to produce to beneficiaries on conclusion of the estate.

Some people may wish to consider a Deed of Variation, diverting and inheritance from their own estate to avoid further inheritance tax charges and we can advise on this.

In conjunction with the independent financial advisors with whom we work we can advise on the restructuring of the estate if required.

International estates

We have wide experience in dealing with estates with assets in different jurisdictions or where the deceased was domiciled in another country. These situations can give rise to difficulties in dealing with foreign probate offices and different succession Wills. We can assist in obtaining Grants of Probate in other countries or re-sealing English Grants. Through our membership of the Association of European Lawyers, we have connections with a number of international law firms. Our Contentious Probate team can advise on cross border disputes.

Please download and complete our questionnaire for Executors and Personal Representatives.

Intestacy

If someone dies without a Will (and approximately 65% of us do) then the estate will be administered according to the laws of intestacy. A Grant of Letters of Administration will be required and administrators rather than executors will be appointed. Intestacy can lead to a number of problems.

Missing relations and sometimes assets will need to be traced. We have connections with a large number of genealogists who can locate missing beneficiaries, or if they have died, obtain death certificates.

Disputed estates

We have a large contentious probate team who deal with a wide range of probate related disputes including the removal of executors and administrators, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975, rectification of Wills and claims of all kinds against the estate.