Recommendations for a Cardiff area solicitor for a death

[geeman237]

I woke this morning to hear my father died suddenly last night. He lived near Cardiff and I live in the USA.
I would be grateful for any recommendations of a local solicitor to assist when the time comes.

[speedyman]

You could try Co-op legal services, they offer nationwide services, so should be able to help. Did an excellent job when my mother passed away. https://www.co-oplegalservices.co.uk/

[ADJimbo]

geeman237 said:

I woke this morning to hear my father died suddenly last night. He lived near Cardiff and I live in the USA.
I would be grateful for any recommendations of a local solicitor to assist when the time comes.

Hello,

I work within the Funeral Industry. I’m sorry for the circumstances which we come into contact with each other.

What are you wanting a Solicitor to do exactly? Is it a case of liaison with HM Coroner and/or arranging the funeral, or the legalities of managing your late Fathers estate?

[geeman237]

Thank you for the replies.

I am looking for a solicitor for the estate legalities and some advice on IHT potential. I am the sole executor but not beneficiary and it's a relatively straightfoward estate bar a couple of questions I'd like professional legal advice on.

Funeral arrangements were pre-planned by my father.

There is going to be a post-mortem.

[ADJimbo]

geeman237 said:

Thank you for the replies.

I am looking for a solicitor for the estate legalities and some advice on IHT potential. I am the sole executor but not beneficiary and it's a relatively straightfoward estate bar a couple of questions I'd like professional legal advice on.

Funeral arrangements were pre-planned by my father.

There is going to be a post-mortem.

Given my sphere of knowledge is more Funeral/Coroner related opposed to IHT and estate planning then I would be of little help as I’m based in the North of England.

Your Father will be in the care of HM Coroner - from memory their admin function is based at Cardiff Central Police Station - or it was when I have had professional dealings with them - so the Coroners Officer there will be able to advise on a local legal firm as will the nominated Funeral Director, if they’re local.

Hope this helps at this very difficult time.

[alscar]

geeman237 said:

Thank you for the replies.

I am looking for a solicitor for the estate legalities and some advice on IHT potential. I am the sole executor but not beneficiary and it's a relatively straightfoward estate bar a couple of questions I'd like professional legal advice on.

Funeral arrangements were pre-planned by my father.

There is going to be a post-mortem.

Obviously depending on whether or not a house needs to be sold it may also be sensible if talking to an Estate Agent to see if they have any local Solicitor recommendations.
That said the Solicitor doesn’t necessarily have to be that local.

[dickymint]

alscar said:

geeman237 said:

Thank you for the replies.

I am looking for a solicitor for the estate legalities and some advice on IHT potential. I am the sole executor but not beneficiary and it's a relatively straightfoward estate bar a couple of questions I'd like professional legal advice on.

Funeral arrangements were pre-planned by my father.

There is going to be a post-mortem.

Obviously depending on whether or not a house needs to be sold it may also be sensible if talking to an Estate Agent to see if they have any local Solicitor recommendations.
That said the Solicitor doesn’t necessarily have to be that local.

O they'll definitely have their favourite solicitor/s

[alscar]

dickymint said:

alscar said:

geeman237 said:

Thank you for the replies.

I am looking for a solicitor for the estate legalities and some advice on IHT potential. I am the sole executor but not beneficiary and it's a relatively straightfoward estate bar a couple of questions I'd like professional legal advice on.

Funeral arrangements were pre-planned by my father.

There is going to be a post-mortem.

Obviously depending on whether or not a house needs to be sold it may also be sensible if talking to an Estate Agent to see if they have any local Solicitor recommendations.
That said the Solicitor doesn’t necessarily have to be that local.

O they'll definitely have their favourite solicitor/s

Indeed but that doesn’t mean they won’t do a good job.
In reality speaking to a couple of Solicitor’s before making a choice is probably sensible anyway.

[SydneyBridge]

I work for a Firm that has a Cardiff office

https://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/our-offices/solici...

[Sebring440]

SydneyBridge said:

I work for a Firm that has a Cardiff office

https://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/our-offices/solici...

And do you recommend them?

[geeman237]

Bit of an update on this. For estate valuations and IHT advice, should I be speaking to a specialist solicitor or a tax/financial expert?
It now doesn't really have to be Cardiff, that was my initial thought based on an in person meeting if needed. I am happy to discuss remotely.
I could really do with a couple of good recommendations.
Thank you

[skwdenyer]

geeman237 said:

Bit of an update on this. For estate valuations and IHT advice, should I be speaking to a specialist solicitor or a tax/financial expert?
It now doesn't really have to be Cardiff, that was my initial thought based on an in person meeting if needed. I am happy to discuss remotely.
I could really do with a couple of good recommendations.
Thank you

Estate valuations (if property) are handled by a local agent / surveyor you instruct. Choosing the “right” one can make a big difference - the valuation you want is one for a “forced” sale, not the best price obtainable after endless time spent, for instance. I don’t have any recommendations of an individual, however, who will need local market knowledge. A “pragmatic” local solicitor may well be able to recommend.

[BigChungus]

Sorry for your loss.

My father is a director at JCP Solicitors and works in this area of law:

www.jcpsolicitors.co.uk

[geeman237]

Thanks again for the additional suggestions. I have another related challenge. I have discovered my father revised his will using a legal services company called Birch Legal Services in Cardiff. They exist on the Gov companies website

https://find-and-update.company-information.servic...

, but I simply cannot find a phone number, email address or anything other than a mailing address for them.

Anyone got any web searching sleuthing skills to get a contact number? PM me if desired.

[skwdenyer]

geeman237 said:

Thanks again for the additional suggestions. I have another related challenge. I have discovered my father revised his will using a legal services company called Birch Legal Services in Cardiff. They exist on the Gov companies website

https://find-and-update.company-information.servic...

, but I simply cannot find a phone number, email address or anything other than a mailing address for them.

Anyone got any web searching sleuthing skills to get a contact number? PM me if desired.

You could try calling 07306 583268 which is the number listed in the Member Directory of the Institute of Professional Willwriters for Fortress Estate Planning, the (now dissolved) company run by the same person as Birch Legal Services, Simon Mitchell. This is a public register, not some "sleuthing" on my part to find a private number: https://www.ipw.org.uk/membership-directory/defaul...

Alternatively try calling 01443 801 588 which is the number listed on their website for Sycamore Legal Services, another company run by the same guy: https://www.sycamorelegal.co.uk/

He also has a bunch of other businesses putatively involved in plastering, rentals, property maintenance, and various other things. He used to list his profession as "paralegal."

Birch Legal themselves seem to have little to no footprint. But it is possible they advertise directly via flyers or somesuch, or perhaps have a deal with somebody else to feed them enquiries on a person-by-person basis. But if you can get a hold of Mr Mitchell I'd suggest you're in the right bailiwick.

[Alickadoo]

geeman237 said:

Thanks again for the additional suggestions. I have another related challenge. I have discovered my father revised his will using a legal services company called Birch Legal Services in Cardiff. They exist on the Gov companies website

https://find-and-update.company-information.servic...

, but I simply cannot find a phone number, email address or anything other than a mailing address for them.

Anyone got any web searching sleuthing skills to get a contact number? PM me if desired.

Is this them?

https://easydigitalfiling.com/company-check/BIRCH-...

[alscar]

skwdenyer said:

You could try calling 07306 583268 which is the number listed in the Member Directory of the Institute of Professional Willwriters for Fortress Estate Planning, the (now dissolved) company run by the same person as Birch Legal Services, Simon Mitchell. This is a public register, not some "sleuthing" on my part to find a private number: https://www.ipw.org.uk/membership-directory/defaul...

Alternatively try calling 01443 801 588 which is the number listed on their website for Sycamore Legal Services, another company run by the same guy: https://www.sycamorelegal.co.uk/

He also has a bunch of other businesses putatively involved in plastering, rentals, property maintenance, and various other things. He used to list his profession as "paralegal."

Birch Legal themselves seem to have little to no footprint. But it is possible they advertise directly via flyers or somesuch, or perhaps have a deal with somebody else to feed them enquiries on a person-by-person basis. But if you can get a hold of Mr Mitchell I'd suggest you're in the right bailiwick.

I can do no better than this in searching.
I am surprised at the lack of advertising though.
Surely not everyone is on Facebook ?!
Perhaps an enquiry of the Law Society might be useful ?

[geeman237]

I've spoken to a solicitor, so I'm working on the next step. A question came to mind after speaking, but I thought someone here may have experience for what might be a simple situation.

Scenario
Deceased person leaves their only property to a son or daughter. No mortgage on the property.
Executor is another person.
What has to happen for the son/daughter (recipient) to be able to sell the property?
Does the executor obtain probate and organise/transfer the property deeds with the land registry into the recipients name, then the recipient has ownership of the property to sell? Or?

[alscar]

geeman237 said:

I've spoken to a solicitor, so I'm working on the next step. A question came to mind after speaking, but I thought someone here may have experience for what might be a simple situation.

Scenario
Deceased person leaves their only property to a son or daughter. No mortgage on the property.
Executor is another person.
What has to happen for the son/daughter (recipient) to be able to sell the property?
Does the executor obtain probate and organise/transfer the property deeds with the land registry into the recipients name, then the recipient has ownership of the property to sell? Or?

As Executor you are firstly responsible for obtaining probate and then distributing the assets thereafter.
This can take up to a year or more in theory depending on how straightforward the total affairs are or indeed if any complications develop.
As to whether you as Executor are then responsible for transferring the deeds etc I know not but would suggest you also appoint a solicitor to assist you through the whole process.
Given you are based in the US I think this would make things less stressful for you.
The solicitor should also be able to deal with such niceties as making sure the house is Insured etc throughout the probate process.