To speak to us about drafting a variation to your inheritance, call our Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts department on 01332 226 162 or fill in the form below.
A deed of variation enables beneficiaries to change what has been left to them in a will after a person has died.
They can also be used to change the outcome of intestacy proceedings where there is no will.
Deeds of variation
Beneficiaries of a will can make changes to their share of an estate after the death of the testator or testatrix by using a deed of variation.
Deeds of variation cannot be used to give yourself a larger amount (unless another beneficiary has agreed to share some of their entitlement), but they can be used to potentially reduce the amount of inheritance tax payable.
The variation must:
The requirements for the variation to be legally valid are strict, so assistance from a legal professional is highly recommended.
Also known as a deed of family arrangement, your deed applies only to your portion of the estate. Your specific reasons for wanting to use a deed of variation could be to share with someone else (such as a new member of the family or someone you believe needs it more), to donate to charity, or as part of your own inheritance tax planning. .
Our solicitors consider our clients’ specific circumstances in every legal matter, to make sure the advice provided is bespoke to their needs.
Deeds of variation
Our wills and probate solicitors are experienced in drafting deeds used for making changes to the distribution of high value estates, in many cases achieving significant savings on inheritance tax.
We can also advise in situations where there is no will, in which the rules of intestacy apply to help family members with issues such as ensuring that an unmarried partner of the deceased is provided for.
In the event of a dispute, we also have experienced estate dispute resolution solicitors who can advise on matters such as contentious probate and challenges to intestacy.
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“Although we had no face-to-face contact we built up a good relationship with Will Harper who we dealt with exclusively. He answered the phone personally and promptly and replied to emails usually the same day.”
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“My mum, brother and I consulted Flint Bishop last July after my father passed away. My parents Will was made with Flint Bishop so it seemed right that we would consult them when my father passed away. It was a scary time for me, as my mum relied heavily on me to deal with the aftermath of my fathers death, funeral, Will etc. but Flint Bishop totally took the worry and strain away. Wwe dealt with Samuel Balmbra and from the start of the consultation he was professional and honest. We knew exactly the cost involved and what was happening at every stage. He made something daunting for us seem very simple. I would recommend Flint Bishop and I will use them again if and when the time arises.”
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“Will Harper provided advice to me in relation to my mother’s Grant of Probate which was very complexed. I feel extremely fortunate to have had Will to guide me through this process at an extremely difficult and distressing time of my life. Will’s response to my enquiries was immediate, he always displayed compassion to my personal situation and would explain things in a way I could understand. Having not gone through the procedure before I had lots of questions and Will always took the time to listen to my concerns and I never felt rushed. This isn’t always the service you get with solicitors, however, after every contact I had with Will I felt more reassured. I have already recommended Will to a close friend and will continue to recommend his exemplary service.”
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