Estate Planning Legal Services for Wills, Trusts and Lasting Powers of Attorney
At Michaels & Company, our estate planning legal services ensure the responsible stewardship of your family’s wealth today and through subsequent generations. We protect your estate, savings or business through meticulous planning, ensuring that life’s uncertainties do not conspire to disinherit your true intended beneficiaries.
Problem Solvers, Solution Providers.
Michaels & Company specialises in robust estate planning and succession planning which extends far beyond writing a Will and the advice you are likely to receive from high street solicitors. We ensure your home, your business and your nest egg are safeguarded for your future generations.
Whether you want to make a Will, establish Lasting Powers of Attorney, set up a Trust or are concerned that your current arrangements are inadequate, talk to us. With over 40 years of experience and having consulted with thousands of clients, both private and business, we have all the specialist expertise you need to deliver dependable estate & succession planning legal services.
Regardless of the value of your estate, or your age, whether personal and/or business, attending to your affairs after you’ve gone, is one of the most important tasks that you are ever likely to undertake. This is our sole focus and we pride ourselves on the highest level of expertise.
One Size does not fit all
Bespoke Estate Planning
At the heart of everything we do, first and foremost, we understand that everyone is unique. We start by listening, and offer friendly, no-nonsense advice tailored precisely to your circumstances.
There are numerous ways in which your home, your savings and your business are vulnerable to claims against your beneficiaries, due to life’s uncertainties such as divorce, remarriage of surviving spouse, creditors, taxation or sudden ill health and accidents.
We are here to help you safeguard your hard-earned assets for you and your family, using simple yet effective, tried and tested Estate Planning Solutions, verified by qualified STEP practitioners and approved by Kings Counsel.
What Our Clients Say About Us
His website provides clear, educational resources that reflect his thoughtful approach — including a downloadable guide that explains the importance of Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and establishing Trusts.
It’s clear he genuinely cares about getting things right for the people he works with, and he’s willing to travel extensively to spend time with clients in person.
Michael offers excellent customer service and was extremely patient with my endless questions.
Michael Doctors of Michaels & Company, advised us about Wills, Family Protection Trusts & Lasting Powers of Attorney. We were very concerned to keep control of these affairs within our family and wanted to ensure that our estate remained within our family.
Michael provided initial consultation by video call and followed up with a personal face to face visit at our home. At no time did we feel rushed or pressurised. All our questions were answered and after we instructed him to set everything up for us he provided up dates and arranged a further visit to ensure our documents were signed correctly.
What would you tell your friends or colleagues about me?
Michael was not at all pushy as we found with other companies providing this service. He provided clear explanations in plain English which we could understand. We have already recommended him to our neighbour.
Micheal is a well presented down to earth gentleman ,thoroughly knowledgeable in this field highly recommend to anyone looking into this .
Thank you Micheal
To discuss such a complex and potentially distressing subject he was a pleasure to have in our home
I would recommend his services to anyone.
The Planning was tailored precisely to our circumstances and at a competitive price considering Michael came to us for both the initial consultation and he personally supervised the attestation of our engrossed documents.
Michael provides a range of Legal Services specialising in Estate Planning and has the experience and qualifications which provided us with the confidence in dealing with both him and his team.
Everything was carefully explained and options given. Communication was always reliable and Micheal himself was very personable.
He spent time understanding our complex family situation and he was able to confidently provide in-depth explanation of products including Wills, Family Protection Trust and Lasting powers of attorney.
Michael was able to provide complex family bloodline protection advice which he was able to explain in terms that was easy to understand.
We had spent over 20 years deliberating this matter and his personal tailored service was a breath of fresh air.
Michael was very attentive and demonstrated great professionalism and patience during the process and we felt throughout that we were in very safe hands.
We would have no hesitation in recommending Michael Doctors to friends and family.
Sarah and Andy – Burgess Hill, West Sussex
Personal Estate Planning
Why leave your wealth to your family, when you can pass it to a total stranger? Ridiculous question? You’d be surprised how often it happens! Estate Planning can avoid this.
Every year, thousands of sensible people hand their family’s wealth to complete strangers. Of course, they didn’t mean to. They intended that their home and savings, treasured possessions, things that have taken a lifetime to earn – should pass to their children and their grandchildren or other beneficiaries. So what went wrong?
Lack of a Will? Right… half of us die without making a Will, but whilst a Will is part of the answer, by itself it’s not enough. Even if you have made a Will, most of the Wills we review, leave loopholes which may leave your loved ones being disinherited of the estate you had intended for them. With almost 50% of all marriages failing and the breakdown of family life, it’s no wonder we’re reticent to tackle the thorny subject of Estate Planning. This often results in what we call, sideways or accidental disinheritance.
Sadly there are common risks which so many families face. Personal circumstances change, surviving spouse/partner remarries or care fees in later life. Third-party claims against children (or other beneficiaries) who then go on to divorce or face bankruptcy and creditors. The death of your child before their spouse and your son or daughter-in-law subsequently remarrying often results in grandchildren losing out to a complete stranger.
Statistically, it’s a lottery as to whether your true intended beneficiaries will inherit.
At Michaels & Company, as established Estate Planners we are experts in the responsible stewardship of your wealth, today and across the generations, ensuring that unforeseen events do not conspire to disinherit your true intended beneficiaries.
With a little trust and estate planning advice from Michaels & Company’s you can avoid handing a stranger (or The State), a windfall.
Personal Estate Planning Legal Services
Will Writing, Family Protection Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Care Fee Planning, Probate, Trust Taxation, Deed of Variation, Disability Trusts
Business Estate Planning
If you are concerned about the impact your death (or your business partners/directors), will have on the business and surviving spouses, civil partners and respective families, then business succession planning is the solution.
Protecting yours or your partner’s share of the business and the most tax-efficient way to pass those shares to beneficiaries is of paramount importance to the successful continuance of the business.
Naturally, you may also be concerned about protecting your beneficiaries from all the threats that face many business partners and families, such as remarriage, subsequent divorce or creditors.
We can solve these issues with a business succession plan tailored to suit your planning requirements.
The death of either you or your business partners/directors will have a devastating effect on the continuing success of your business. Protecting your share, in the most tax-efficient way is a minefield. Inheritance tax is often referred to as a ‘voluntary tax’ as there are Inheritance Tax planning strategies available to reduce your exposure. None of us wants to pay more tax than necessary and at Michaels and Company we can help with legal documents to reduce the liability whilst protecting your family.
Business Estate Planning Legal Services
Protecting Business Assets, Cross Option Agreements, Shareholder Trusts
You could go to a local firm of Solicitors for Wills advice, but from our experience, this advice is often not their speciality and therefore they may not be best placed to offer you all the options. I am therefore suggesting that you approach a firm that solely deal in Wills and IHT planning. I would like to refer you on to Michael Doctors who has dealt with a number of our clients and the feedback we have received from clients has always been positive.”
Peter Jarman & Co. Chartered Certified Accountants
Here’s how we work
CONVENIENCE
Visits arranged at home or your business premises at times to suit you.
ANALYSIS & REPORT
In-depth analysis of your situation – family, business and assets.
TAILORED TO YOU
Bespoke estate plan based on your personal needs – everyone is unique.
PERSONAL
Experience, compassion and empathy to make appropriate recommendations.
PRACTICAL
Suggestions to protect your estate and potentially reduce tax liabilities.
CLARITY & TRANSPARENCY
Fixed fees agreed in advance. Trustworthy, confidential & personal service.
Why Choose Us?
Highly Experienced
With over 40 years’ experience within both the private and business sectors, we have provided advice to thousands of satisfied clients from all walks of life, working in association with qualified professionals such as STEP Practitioners, Barristers, Solicitors, Accountants, Licensed Conveyancers, Financial Advisors and ONLY those with industry-relevant qualifications.
Bespoke estate planning
Together with our associates, we have the experience and professional qualifications to guide you through personal and business complexities; ensuring you protect your family and estate for, only for those you truly wish to inherit, against the claims which sadly face many families – divorce, remarriage, creditors, care and taxation.
We see the whole picture
Providing an in-depth analysis of your family, business and assets, we report back with practical, simple and robust strategies to protect your estate and potentially reduce tax liabilities. Personal experience, compassion and empathy, ensure our bespoke estate planning legal services are based on your personal needs – after all, everyone is unique, and no one size fits all.
Let’s talk about protecting your home, your business, your nest egg.
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