Making a will or dealing with a loved one’s estate can feel overwhelming. You want a solicitor who actually listens, explains things clearly, and gets back to you when you need them. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Darwin Gray. We’re here to help you protect your family, plan for the future, and navigate probate with confidence.
Get a free, no-obligation chat with our wills and probate team, call us on 02920 829 100 or use our Contact us form.
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Life is unpredictable, and none of us likes thinking about what happens when we’re gone. But putting the right plans in place now means your loved ones won’t face unnecessary stress, expense, or family disputes later.
Whether you need to write your first will, update an existing one, set up a Lasting Power of Attorney, or guide your family through probate after a bereavement, our wills and probate solicitors are here to help. We work with individuals and families across Wales and throughout the UK, offering practical advice in plain English or Welsh.
At Darwin Gray, you’ll work directly with experienced solicitors who know your case inside out. No chasing multiple people, no being passed around. Just straightforward, honest guidance from people who genuinely care about getting this right for you.
Ready for a free, no-obligation chat? Contact us today on 02920 829 100 or use our Contact us form.
A properly drafted will is the only way to make sure your wishes are followed after you’re gone. Without one, the rules of intestacy decide who inherits, and that might not match what you actually want.
Our will solicitors help you create a clear, legally valid will that reflects your circumstances. Whether your situation is straightforward or involves complex family dynamics, business interests, or property abroad, we’ll make sure everything is covered.
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When someone dies, their estate needs to be administered properly. This involves applying for a Grant of Probate, valuing assets, paying inheritance tax, settling debts, and distributing everything to the right people.
It’s a process that can take months, and getting it wrong can cause real problems. Our probate solicitors handle everything for you, or provide as much support as you need, keeping you informed at every stage.
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Good estate planning helps you protect your assets, minimise inheritance tax, and make sure your wealth goes where you want it to. We’ll help you think through your options and put structures in place that work for your family.
This might include lifetime gifts, trusts, or making the most of available tax reliefs. We work with you to build a plan that fits your situation now and adapts as your circumstances change.
A Lasting Power of Attorney lets you choose who makes decisions on your behalf if you lose the ability to do so yourself. Without one, your family might need to apply to the Court of Protection, which is expensive, slow, and restrictive.
We can help you set up both types of LPA: one for property and financial decisions, and one for health and welfare matters. It’s one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your family.
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Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on estates above the nil-rate band(s) available to an estate. With proper planning, you can reduce or even eliminate this liability, passing more of your wealth to your family.
We advise on lifetime gifts, trusts, spouse exemptions, nil-rate band transfers, business and agricultural property relief, and charitable giving. Our aim is to make sure your family doesn’t pay more tax than necessary.
Trusts can protect assets for future generations, provide for vulnerable family members, or reduce your inheritance tax bill. But they need to be set up correctly to work as intended.
We help you choose the right type of trust for your goals and draft documentation that’s legally sound. We also advise existing trustees on their duties and help them administer trusts properly.
Choosing a law firm is a big decision. You want experts who actually get you and your organisation, respond when you need them, and give you straight answers. That’s us. We’re one of Wales’ leading commercial law firms, and we do things a little differently.
You won’t be passed through layers of gatekeepers here. When you call, you’ll speak to the solicitor handling your matter. You’ll have their direct contact details and a genuine working relationship. Our clients tell us this makes all the difference.
We don’t work in silos. Our team shares knowledge across departments, jumps in on each other’s projects, and stays close to every case. So if your usual contact is unavailable, someone else can step in quickly, without a formal handover and without missing a beat. Better continuity for you, and faster results all round.
Devolved decision-making and flexible working hours mean we can move at pace. You’ll get faster responses, even outside regular office hours. Need an urgent answer on a Friday evening? We’re set up for exactly that.
Getting to know our clients properly matters to us. Face-to-face meetings, regular catch-ups, networking events, and yes, the occasional dinner. We bring clients and referrers into our offices, get out to visit yours, and put real effort into building lasting partnerships. Plenty of larger firms aren’t prepared to do that. We are.
You’ll always get the full picture from us. Clear options, each with its own risk level, so you can make informed decisions. No sugar-coating, no hedging. Just practical, commercial guidance and high-quality legal work at a fair price.
We’re the leading commercial law firm with offices in South and North Wales offering Welsh language legal services at every level, from trainees right through to partners. This isn’t an add-on or a tick-box exercise. It’s part of who we are, and it’s earned us a strong reputation across Wales. If you need a solicitor who can work fluently in Welsh, you’ll find that expertise right across our team.
Regular, honest communication is something we take seriously. Hot topic updates, client newsletters, regular webinars, and practical advice on the changes that matter to you. You’ll never be left wondering where things stand with your case or what’s coming next.
We start with a free, no-obligation chat to understand your situation. Whether you’re making a will, dealing with probate, or planning your estate, we’ll listen to what matters most to you and explain how we can help.
We’ll review your circumstances and give you clear options. Every family is different, so we take the time to understand yours and recommend solutions that actually fit your needs.
Once you’re happy with the approach, we get to work. We handle the legal details, keep you updated throughout, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. You’ll always know where things stand.
Life changes. We’re here for the long term to help you review your will, update your LPAs, or deal with any issues that come up. Many of our clients have been with us for years.
We believe in complete transparency when it comes to costs. Before we start any work, we’ll give you a clear explanation of our fees and how they’re calculated.
For many wills and lasting power of attorney matters, we can offer fixed fees so you know exactly what you’re paying upfront. For more complex cases, we’ll provide a detailed estimate and keep you informed if anything changes.
We’re always happy to discuss costs during your initial conversation, so there are no surprises.
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Professional, concise, proactive and efficient. Just what I wanted. My past experience with solicitors, in a professional capacity has not been great, so it has been a refreshing change. Chris Wood
Without a will, your estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy, which might not match your wishes at all. Your spouse or partner could receive less than you’d want. Your children might inherit earlier than is sensible. People you care about could be left out entirely. A will lets you decide who gets what, appoint guardians for your children, and make things as straightforward as possible for your family.
If you die intestate, the law decides who inherits your estate. Married partners and civil partners are prioritised – but will not necessarily inherit all of your estate, then children, then other relatives. Unmarried partners have no automatic right to inherit anything. It can also take longer and cost more to administer an intestate estate, adding stress for your family at an already difficult time.
We recommend reviewing your will every three to five years, or whenever your circumstances change significantly. Marriage, divorce, having children or grandchildren, buying property, changes in your financial situation, or the death of a beneficiary or executor are all good reasons to check your will still says what you want it to say.
Probate is the legal process of administering someone’s estate after they die. If the deceased left a will, the executor applies for a Grant of Probate. If there’s no will, someone applies for Letters of Administration. Probate is usually required when the estate includes property, shares, or bank accounts above certain thresholds.
Most straightforward estates can be dealt with in around six to twelve months. More complex estates, particularly those involving property, overseas assets, inheritance tax issues, or disputes, can take considerably longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe based on your specific circumstances.
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lose the mental capacity to make them yourself. There are two types: one covers property and financial affairs, the other covers health and welfare decisions.
You’re not legally required to use a solicitor, but we’d strongly recommend it. DIY wills often contain errors or ambiguities that can cause problems after you’ve gone. A solicitor will make sure your will is properly drafted, legally valid, and actually achieves what you want it to.
Yes. You can change your will at any time by making a codicil (a formal amendment) or by writing a new will. For significant changes, a new will is usually the better option. Your existing will remains valid until you revoke it or replace it with a new one.
Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on the value of your estate above the nil-rate band(s) available (currently £325,000, or up to £500,000 if you leave your home to direct descendants, or £1,000,000 if you are the surviving spouse/civil partner and you inherited your spouse’s/civil partner’s entire estate). With proper planning, you can reduce or avoid this liability. We can advise on the best strategies for your situation.
Yes. Many people choose to appoint a solicitor as executor, either alone or alongside family members. This can be helpful if your estate is complex or if you want to reduce the burden on your family. We can discuss whether this would be appropriate for you.
If you have concerns about a will, such as whether the person had mental capacity, was under undue influence, or whether the will was properly executed, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible. There are strict time limits for challenging a will, and early action is important.
Yes. Claims can be brought on various grounds, including lack of capacity, undue influence, fraud, or inadequate provision for dependants under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. If you’re concerned about a potential claim, or think you have grounds to challenge a will, we can advise you on your options.
9 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HA
Unit F12, InTec, Ffordd y Parc, Parc Menai, Bangor, LL57 4FG
We’re happy to meet clients at either office, arrange home visits where needed, or work by video call if that’s more convenient for you.
Planning for the future or dealing with a loved one’s estate shouldn’t feel overwhelming. Our wills and probate solicitors are here to guide you through every step, with clear advice you can trust and a personal service that makes the whole process easier.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation chat to see if we can help you.
Call us on 02920 829 100 or use our Contact us form.
To speak to one of our experts today, please contact us on 02920 829 100 or by using our Contact Us form for a free initial chat to see how we can help.
02920 829 100 
