Probate

Your personal legal advisor will help you through all of your legal matters

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A tailored service you can trust

With over 140 years experience

Probate can be a complicated and confusing process. Even fairly simple estates can be a challenge to administer without the right help.

At Goughs our experienced legal team is here to offer a helping hand, whether you need initial advice, assistance with a difficult stage or for someone to take responsibility for the whole probate process.

Our Popular Services

Probate & Inheritance Disputes

Our dedicated lawyers will provide personal and bespoke advice

Administration of Trusts

Your guide through this legal process

Administration of Estates

Your guide to administering an estate after losing a loved one

Intestacies

Legal advice if a loved one dies without a Will

Our lawyers are here to offer you the guidance you need

Your probate solicitors since 1882

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The Goughs approach to Probate

At Goughs, we can support you with every aspect of Probate. Whether it’s helping sorting out an estate or you’re struggling with more complex issues, our specialist lawyers will offer a tailored service to you. You can have peace of mind in the knowledge that every aspect of probate has been handled the right way.

Here’s just some of the areas we can advise on:

Applying for a grant of probate

Investigating and valuing the estate

Collecting estate funds

Income and inheritance tax returns 

Selling or transferring ownership of property

Distributing funds and assets according to the Will

Managing any trusts in the Will

If there is no Will

Will disputes

Our lawyers give comprehensive advice on all legal issues that can arise during Probate.

probate faqs

Why work
with Goughs?

Local since 1882, with an excellent reputation

First-class, effective service

Largest solicitors in Wiltshire

Seven offices throughout the county

Nationally accredited law firm

Recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners

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Your Probate team

Andrew Kelly

Associate Solicitor

Andrew has over twenty years litigation experience and has worked on a wide range of contentious probate matters. He has a particular interest in Will disputes; Inheritance Act claims; Proprietary estoppel; and Professional negligence.

 

andrewkelly@goughs.co.uk

01225 762683

Catherine Cole

Associate Private Client Practitioner

Following a career in hospitality, Catherine began working in private client law in 2002. She joined Goughs in 2017 and within 2 years she was promoted to an Associate

catherinecole@goughs.co.uk

01249 810 883

Maxine Coles

Associate Chartered Legal Executive

Maxine specialises in Private Client work, with much of her work being in elderly client care. She has a natural empathy towards clients in what can often be distressing situations.

maxinecoles@goughs.co.uk

01225 899 506

Samantha Pettersen

Solicitor

Samantha joined Goughs as a Solicitor in 2020. Samantha has been practicing in Private Client law since 2018, and loves the personal interaction with clients and being able to help them with difficult personal and emotional circumstances.

samanthapettersen@goughs.co.uk

01249 717874

Annie James

Solicitor

Annie qualified as a Private Client solicitor in 2016 and joined Goughs in February 2020. She specialises in the preparation of Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, preparation and administration of Trusts, and the administration of Estates. Annie prides herself on taking the time to really understand the needs and priorities of her clients.

anniejames@goughs.co.uk

01380 736 661

Rochelle Graham

Solicitor

Rochelle qualified as a Private Client solicitor in September 2019 after gaining valuable experience in the Private Client team. She is now a year qualified and continues to develop and further her knowledge of Private client work.

rochellegraham@goughs.co.uk

01249 717882

Luchia Hirst

Associate Solicitor

Luchia has been practicing Private Client law for close to 8 years, and really enjoys the client contact and hands-on nature of this area of practice.

luchiahirst@goughs.co.uk

01249 717879

Dawn Moir

Partner (TEP)

Dawn joined in 2003 and became a partner in 2004. Whilst Dawn supports her team with all aspects of estate planning and estate administration, her particular areas of expertise are later life planning & support, and trust creation & administration, including all things tax.

dawnmariemoir@goughs.co.uk

01225 781921

Phillip Bolton

Partner & Head of Private Wealth

Phillip is a Partner and Head of the Private Wealth Team at the firm. His practice encompasses all aspects of private client work, with a particular interest in complex Wills, wealth preservation, tax mitigation, and estate planning.

phillipbolton@goughs.co.uk

01249 717 883

Emma Taylor

Partner & Head of Private Client

Emma began her life at Goughs in 2008 as a Solicitor. Now, with over 15 years of experience, she is a Partner and Head of the Private Client Department. Emma deals with all areas of Private Client work but has a particular interest in Trusts and Complex Property Ownership.

emmataylor@goughs.co.uk

01380 736 654

Trish Watkins

Senior Associate (CILEx)

As a Private Client lawyer, Trish always had a strong empathy for the elderly and vulnerable and prides herself in being able to engage with them and support them through what can be very difficult times.

trishwatkins@goughs.co.uk

01249 450089

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Choosing Goughs family team
Choosing Goughs family team
Changes to family law
Changes to family law
The Goughs approach to divorce and separation
The Goughs approach to divorce and separation

Digmore Sid

Excellent service

I engaged the services of Goughs Solicitors in Trowbridge, in particular Ailie Peacock, to act on my behalf for the sale of my house. Ailie was always clear with her advice, acted in a timely manor and answered any questions I had almost immediately. She was very proactive in dealing with the other parties involved in a slightly convoluted chain.

Ailie also managed a very late request from our buyers with calm efficiency and the utmost professionalism. The end result was a smooth sale and completion, with remarkably little stress on our part. I would not hesitate from using them again.

2021-02-27

Margaret Wilson

Clear concise advice

Quick response to e-mails or phone calls. Will certainly use again in the near future. Clear concise advice patiently given!

2021-03-09

Mr Ian Liddle

Excellent service

Excellent service as usual.

2021-04-01

Alan

Superb once again.

Superb once again. Goughs provides outstanding service... professional in getting the job done and conducted with grace and care. Thank you Goughs!

2021-04-01

Ashley Stone

Rhianna Cole

The solicitor I dealt with at Goughs, Rhianna Cole, was an absolute star, I cannot fault her in any way at all. She made everything in the situation I was in so easy to understand, and she guided me through an extremely stressful time, with extreme professionalism, yet a very personal and sensitive touch. Can't big them up enough.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

2021-04-01

Matt Saunders

Made first-time buying a (relatively) simple process!

Sophie was very attentive and responsive and understood the need to act quickly in regard to our purchase process. She was diligent with the paperwork and was very easy to talk to and clear at explaining what was required in terms of action from our side and from the seller.

2021-04-08

Testimonials

Georgina Catlin

beneficial and fair to all

I would like to Georgina for your help, advice and professionalism over the last year or so. From a personal viewpoint, your clear and level headed approach certainly helped keep my feet firmly planted on the ground, it's greatly appreciated. I feel that your recommendation regarding Counsel was also spot on and certainly helped secure an outcome that was beneficial and fair to all.

2021-09-03

Eleanor Wood

credit to your company

I think it’s now been close to 3 years Ellie has been working on my behalf in what I imagine even she would say has been an incredibly challenging divorce. Ellie has managed to secure me a fair split of the marital home and most importantly get my ex to take responsibility for a loan that she was refusing to pay her part of, this was a huge victory as far as I am concerned.  Ellie has been professional and calm throughout despite the many frustrations and me finding things incredibly stressful she has always been there the voice of reason. She is absolutely a credit to your company and I will recommend her highly.

2021-08-31

Joanne B

A huge thank you to the team at the Trowbridge branch today. You went above any beyond to help me get documents certified urgently, even though I'm not a client of yours. Friendly, helpful and professional.

Nicolas Bracegirdle

pursuit of excellence.

All were welcoming and pleasant and dealt with my queries instantly. Nadine Cook who handled the conveyancing was absolutely outstanding in her pursuit of excellence. I commend her as one of the best and she has my everlasting thanks

2021-07-19

David Humphries

very friendly welcome

Donna was always available on the phone and was always helpful, a very friendly welcome. I had very regular updates and nothing was too much trouble.

2021-07-19

Ali Joy

excellent service

Since working with Nadine - excellent service, Thank you Nadine, good service as expected.

2021-07-19

Administration of Estates

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Inheritance Disputes

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Popular questions
about Probate

Probate is the legal process of dealing with the affairs of someone who has passed away. It can be a lengthy and sometimes stressful process, placing a lot of responsibility on the person managing the estate.

For information on our Probate Fees, please click here.

We’ve been supporting the clients all over the South West for many years. You may need assistance with the administrative side of things or you may want us to take charge of the whole probate process for you. 

Our specialist probate lawyers offer friendly and straightforward guidance ensuring your duties as an Executor are carried out properly.

At Goughs we have a team of specialist legal advisors who can assist and you advise you with the administration of intestate estates.

You may have concerns about the circumstances surrounding the preparation of the Will and the validity of the Will document itself. 

Our dispute lawyers specialising in contesting Wills can advise on the grounds for challenging a Will.

Related Pages

The complete guide to probate

Losing a relative or a close friend is always going to be a difficult time and having the responsibility for the administration of their estate can be daunting.

LEarn More

What to do when someone dies

A step by step guide to help you in knowing what to do when someone dies.

LEarn More

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