Wills, Trusts &
Estates
Protect your family and your estate. Specialist solicitors for wills, trusts, estate disputes and inheritance tax planning — serving Chester, Cheshire and North Wales.
Chester-based, acting across Cheshire, North Wales (Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire) and throughout England and Wales. You will know exactly what is involved — and what it will cost — before any work begins.
No obligation · Costs explained clearly · Confidential
Planning for the Future?
Whether you need a straightforward will, a complex trust arrangement, advice on a disputed estate, or help reducing your inheritance tax liability — our solicitor-led team handles every matter with the same care and transparency. We serve clients across Chester, Cheshire, North Wales and throughout England and Wales.
Wills, Trusts & Estates Services
What We Can Help You With
From straightforward will writing to complex trust arrangements and estate disputes — handled by specialist solicitors serving Chester, Cheshire and North Wales.
Wills
A professionally drafted will ensures your wishes are carried out and your estate passes to the right people.
Find out moreTrusts
Trusts can protect assets, provide for vulnerable beneficiaries, and form part of a wider estate planning strategy.
Find out moreEstate Disputes
Disputes over wills, inheritance and estate administration — acting for beneficiaries, executors and those challenging a will.
Find out moreContesting a Will
Challenging a will on grounds of lack of capacity, undue influence, or fraud — and Inheritance Act 1975 claims for reasonable financial provision.
Find out moreTax Planning
Inheritance tax planning, lifetime gifting strategies and structuring your estate to minimise tax exposure.
Find out moreSuccession Planning
Planning for the transfer of your estate, business or wealth to the next generation — tax-efficiently and in accordance with your wishes.
Find out moreDeed of Variation
Redirect an inheritance after death to reduce tax, benefit other family members, or correct an oversight in a will.
Find out moreLetters of Administration
Applying for letters of administration when someone dies without a will — and administering the estate under the intestacy rules.
Find out moreCodicil to Will
Amending or updating an existing will with a codicil — when to use one and when to make a new will instead.
Find out moreLiving Will & Advance Directive
Recording your wishes about medical treatment in advance — an advance decision to refuse treatment (ADRT) and advance care planning.
Find out moreLasting Powers of Attorney
Appoint someone you trust to manage your affairs if you lose mental capacity — an essential part of estate planning.
Find out moreInheritance Tax Calculator
Estimate your estate's inheritance tax exposure with our free interactive calculator — including spouse-to-spouse scenarios.
Find out moreOur Fees
Transparent, fixed-fee pricing for wills, trusts and estate planning — all costs confirmed in writing before any work begins.
Find out moreCase Studies
Real examples of how we have helped clients with complex wills, trusts, inheritance tax planning and estate disputes.
Find out moreProfessional Referrers
Information for accountants, financial advisers and other professionals who refer clients to our wills and estate planning team.
Find out moreProbate Property Valuation
Guidance on valuing property for probate purposes — HMRC requirements, instructing surveyors, and avoiding common pitfalls.
Find out morePets in Wills
How to make provisions for pets in your will — pet trusts, conditional gifts, and special planning for long-lived animals like parrots and tortoises.
Find out moreWills for Unmarried Couples
Why unmarried couples have no automatic inheritance rights and how a will protects your partner — cohabitation and intestacy explained.
Find out moreMirror Wills for Couples
Mirror wills for spouses and civil partners — how they work, when to use them, and the risks of leaving everything to each other.
Find out moreTypes of Trusts Compared
A plain-English comparison of the main types of trust — discretionary, bare, interest in possession, and more — and when each is appropriate.
Find out moreFamily Asset Protection Trusts
Protecting family assets from care fees, divorce, and creditors using a family asset protection trust — benefits, risks, and HMRC implications.
Find out moreProtective Property Trusts
Using a protective property trust in your will to ring-fence your share of the family home for your children while allowing your spouse to remain.
Find out moreInheritance Tax Explained
A comprehensive guide to inheritance tax in England and Wales — who pays it, when, how it is calculated, and the main reliefs and exemptions.
Find out moreTransferable Nil Rate Band
How the transferable nil rate band works for married couples and civil partners — doubling the threshold and how to claim it on the second death.
Find out moreAgricultural Property Relief
IHT agricultural property relief for farmers and rural landowners — qualifying conditions, rates, and interaction with business property relief.
Find out moreBusiness Property Relief
Business property relief from inheritance tax — qualifying assets, the 100% and 50% rates, and planning strategies for business owners.
Find out moreLifetime Gifts
Making gifts during your lifetime to reduce inheritance tax — annual exemptions, small gifts, normal expenditure out of income, and the seven-year rule.
Find out moreSpecialist Advice For Your Situation
Who We Help
Many clients have estates that go beyond a straightforward will. We have specialist pages for clients whose circumstances require more tailored advice.
Landlords & property investors
Wills and estate planning for clients with buy-to-let portfolios and investment property.
Find out moreBusiness owners & directors
Business Property Relief, succession planning, and wills for company directors.
Find out moreFarmers & rural landowners
Agricultural Property Relief and succession planning for farming families.
Find out moreFamilies with a disabled beneficiary
Discretionary trusts and specialist wills to protect vulnerable or disabled loved ones.
Find out moreBlended families
Protecting children from a previous relationship while providing for a new partner.
Find out moreHigh earners approaching retirement
Estate planning for those with significant pension pots, investments and property.
Find out moreEstate planning for living clients
Gifting strategies, tax efficiency, powers of attorney, and regular review cycles.
Find out moreYour Estate Planning Journey
A typical path through estate planning with PDA Law
Make a Will
The foundation of any estate plan. Protect your assets and your loved ones.
Find out moreLasting Power of Attorney
Appoint someone you trust to manage your affairs if you lose capacity.
Find out moreSet Up a Trust
Protect assets for future generations and manage inheritance tax exposure.
Find out moreTax Planning
Reduce inheritance tax liability through careful, compliant planning.
Find out moreProbate & Administration
When the time comes, we handle the estate administration with care.
Find out moreWhy PDA Law
Specialist Wills & Estates Solicitors in Chester & North Wales
Solicitor-Led, Not Paralegal-Led
Your matter is handled by a qualified solicitor — not passed to a paralegal or junior member of staff.
Sensitive & Professional
We understand the personal nature of estate planning and work with care and discretion throughout.
Costs Confirmed in Writing
All costs are confirmed in writing before any work starts. No hidden extras.
Rated 4.8★ on Google
374 verified reviews. Clients consistently highlight our sensitivity and expertise.
SRA Regulated
Fully regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Your estate planning is in safe hands.
Chester, Cheshire & North Wales
Based in Chester, we act for clients across Cheshire, North Wales (Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire) and throughout England and Wales.
Our Team
Meet Your Wills & Estates Specialists
Our dedicated wills, trusts and estates team brings together qualified solicitors, legal executives and private client specialists — all focused on delivering sensitive, expert advice.
Nikolina Vukovic
Legal Executive — Wills, Trusts & Estates
Nikolina specialises in probate, wills, trusts and estate administration. She supports clients through what is often one of the most difficult periods of their lives — from straightforward administrations to complex estates involving property, inheritance tax and sensitive family circumstances.
Darren Steele
Senior Private Client Executive · STEP Member
Darren has worked in the legal sector since 1998 and has been a STEP member since 2011. He specialises in wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and probate — with particular expertise in inheritance tax planning and complex estate structuring.
Laura Kirton
Wills & Probate Solicitor · 10 Years Qualified
Laura is a qualified solicitor with ten years' post-qualification experience, specialising in wills, probate, and lasting powers of attorney. Known for her calm, methodical approach, she brings both legal expertise and genuine insight to every matter — particularly in emotionally complex family situations.
David Stahler
Wills, Trusts & Estates Executive
David is our first point of contact for clients enquiring about wills and estate planning. He brings a warm, personable approach to what can be a sensitive subject — and clients consistently remark on how at ease he makes them feel. Discreet, approachable, and thorough.
Client Reviews
What Our Clients Say
“PDA Law handled my late husband's estate with exceptional care and professionalism. They guided me through every step of the probate process, explained everything clearly, and made an overwhelming time much more manageable.”
Margaret T.
Chester
“I needed a will and trust arrangement to protect my assets for my children. The solicitor took the time to understand my family situation and produced exactly what I needed. Costs were confirmed upfront — no surprises.”
David A.
Wrexham
“We came to PDA Law for mirror wills and advice on putting our home in trust. The advice was thorough, the process was straightforward, and we now have complete peace of mind that our estate will pass to our children as we intend.”
Susan & Robert C.
Cheshire
“PDA Law helped me challenge a will that I believed did not reflect my father's true wishes. They were honest about the prospects from the outset and handled the dispute with real expertise. The outcome was far better than I expected.”
Thomas G.
North Wales
Reviews verified via Google
Speak to a Specialist
Ready to Protect Your Estate?
Join hundreds of clients who have trusted PDA Law with their wills, trusts and estate planning. No obligation — just clear, honest advice.
Local Reach
Wills & Estate Planning Solicitors — Chester, Cheshire & North Wales
PDA Law is based in Chester and acts for clients across Cheshire and North Wales. We are conveniently located for clients in Wrexham, Flintshire, Deeside, Denbighshire, Conwy and Anglesey — and we regularly advise on estates with cross-border elements involving both English and Welsh law.
Complete Estate Planning
How Wills, LPA & Probate Work Together
A complete estate plan covers three connected areas — each serving a different purpose at a different stage of life. Understanding how they connect helps you plan ahead with confidence.
Wills & Estate Planning
Your will sets out who inherits your estate and appoints executors to carry out your wishes. Trusts and tax planning reduce the inheritance tax your estate will pay. This is the foundation of everything that follows.
Make a Will →Lasting Power of Attorney
An LPA appoints someone you trust to manage your affairs if you lose mental capacity. It operates during your lifetime only — and ends at death. Without an LPA, your family may need a costly Court of Protection application.
Make an LPA →Probate & Estate Administration
After death, the executor named in your will applies for probate — the legal authority to administer your estate. A well-drafted will makes this process significantly simpler and reduces the risk of family disputes.
Explore Probate →Our recommendation: Make your will and both LPAs together — it is more efficient, and ensures your affairs are in order for every eventuality. Many clients also take the opportunity to review their inheritance tax position at the same time.
Related Guides
Plain English guides to help you understand your situation before speaking to a solicitor.
Guide to Making a Will
Why you need a will, what happens without one, how to choose executors and guardians, and how to keep your will up to date.
A Complete Guide to Probate
What probate is, when you need it, how long it takes, executor responsibilities, and what happens when there is no will.
Common Questions
Get Started
Speak to a Wills & Estates Solicitor
No obligation · Fixed fees confirmed upfront · Serving Chester, Cheshire & North Wales
Prefer to speak with us? Call 01244 757352
Our Team
Speak to a Member of Our Team
Darren Steele
Senior Private Client Executive · STEP Member
Darren has worked in the legal sector since 1998 and has been a STEP member since 2011. He specialises in wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and probate — with particular expertise in inheritance tax planning and complex estate structuring.
PDA Law is a Chester-based wills and estates firm with 25+ years of experience in will drafting, probate, trust administration, tax planning, and disputed estates. Our solicitors help individuals, families, and business owners protect their assets and plan for the future. We specialise in inheritance tax planning, pension planning, trust structures, and estate administration for executors. With a 4.8★ Google rating from 374+ verified reviews, we're trusted for clear advice, tax-efficient planning, and compassionate support during probate. Whether you're creating a will, administering an estate, or planning for inheritance tax, we provide the expertise to protect what matters most.
Tax-Efficient Planning
Inheritance tax minimisation. Pension planning. Trust structures. Maximising your legacy.
Probate Specialists
Full estate administration. Executor support. Dispute resolution. Compassionate guidance.
25+ Years Experience
Established 2001. Hundreds of wills and estates managed. Trusted expertise.
From our solicitors
A first-hand perspective on wills, trusts & estates
[Placeholder — our wills, trusts and estates team will add their own expert paragraph here shortly. This section is reserved for first-hand insight from the solicitors who handle these matters every day.]
Related Practice Areas
Explore other services that often work alongside wills, trusts and estates. Our integrated approach ensures comprehensive legal support across multiple areas.
Wills & Estate Planning in Chester & Cheshire
PDA Law is based in Chester and acts for clients across Cheshire, Wirral and North Wales. Our local landing pages provide specific information for clients in each area.
Wills Solicitors Chester
Will writing, mirror wills, trusts and estate planning in Chester. Fixed fees. STEP-qualified team.
IHT Planning Chester
Inheritance tax planning solicitors in Chester. STEP member Darren Steele — specialist IHT advice.
Probate Solicitors Chester
Probate and estate administration in Chester. Compassionate, solicitor-led service.
LPA Solicitors Chester
Lasting powers of attorney — property & financial affairs, health & welfare.
WTE North Wales
Wills, trusts and estates for clients in Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and North Wales.
Court of Protection
Court of Protection applications, deputyship and mental capacity advice.
Common Questions About Wills & Estate Planning
Most adults do not have a will — or have one that is out of date. Here are the questions we are asked most often, with detailed answers from our solicitors.
What happens if you die without a will?
The intestacy rules explained — who inherits, what happens to unmarried partners, and why making a will matters.
How to update a will
When should you update your will? Marriage, divorce, new children, property changes — codicil or new will?
Wills for blended families
Protecting children from previous relationships — life interest trusts and avoiding unintended disinheritance.
Inheritance tax planning
Reducing your estate's IHT exposure — nil-rate bands, gifting, trusts and reliefs. STEP-qualified advice.
2024 Budget IHT changes
How the October 2024 Budget changes to IHT, APR and pensions affect your estate planning.
Contesting a will
Challenging a will on grounds of capacity, undue influence or fraud — and Inheritance Act claims.
Witnessing a will
Who can witness a will, what the rules are, and what happens if a will is incorrectly witnessed.
Digital assets & cryptocurrency
How to include digital assets, crypto and online accounts in your will and estate plan.
IHT & pension planning
How the 2024 Budget changes affect inherited pensions and what to do about your estate plan now.
Specialist Topics
In-Depth Guides & Specialist Pages
Detailed guidance on specific aspects of wills, trusts, estate planning and probate — written by our solicitors.
Executor & Estate Administration
A complete guide to executor duties — from obtaining probate to distributing the estate.
Trust Will: Costs & Types
The different types of trust will, when to use each, and what they cost.
Cross-Border & International Estates
Estates with assets in multiple countries — domicile, succession law and practical steps.
Deed of Variation Explained
How a deed of variation works, who can sign one, and when it saves inheritance tax.
Inheritance Act Claims
Claims for reasonable financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Challenging a Will
Grounds for challenging a will — lack of capacity, undue influence, fraud and forgery.
Probate Property Valuation
How property is valued for probate, HMRC requirements, and what to do if HMRC challenges the figure.
Free Wills Month
The Free Wills Month scheme — who is eligible, what is included, and how to register.
Recently Divorced?
How divorce affects your will, LPA and estate plan — and what to update immediately.
Landlords & Company Structures
Estate planning for landlords with limited company portfolios — IHT, succession and wills.
IHT Calculator
Estimate your estate's inheritance tax liability with our free interactive calculator.
Case Studies
Real-world examples of how we have helped clients with wills, trusts and estate planning.
Related: Probate
Probate & Estate Administration
Wills and probate go hand in hand. Once a will-maker passes away, the executor named in the will must apply for a grant of probate before they can administer the estate. Our probate team handles the full process — from grant application to final distribution.
Probate Solicitors
Grant of probate, estate administration and executor support — Chester, Cheshire & North Wales.
Applying for Probate
How to apply for a grant of probate — step by step, with common mistakes to avoid.
Full Estate Administration
We manage the entire process from asset valuation to final distribution.
Executor Advice
Practical guidance for executors — duties, personal liability and family disputes.
Do I Need Probate?
When probate is required, when it is not, and what factors determine whether you need a grant.
Probate Fees
Transparent pricing for probate and estate administration — costs confirmed in writing.
Probate Without a Will
How to administer an estate when the deceased died intestate — letters of administration explained.
How Long Does Probate Take?
Realistic timescales for grant applications and full estate administration.
Disputed Estates
Contentious probate — challenging or defending wills and Inheritance Act claims.
Related: Lasting Power of Attorney
Lasting Powers of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney is an essential part of estate planning — and one that is often overlooked until it is too late. We recommend making both types of LPA alongside your will, so that if you ever lose mental capacity, someone you trust can manage your affairs.
Lasting Power of Attorney
Appoint someone you trust to manage your affairs if you lose capacity — property & financial affairs and health & welfare.
Types of LPA
Property & Financial Affairs vs Health & Welfare — the differences and which you need.
Making an LPA
Step-by-step guide to making a lasting power of attorney — from choosing attorneys to registration.
LPA Costs
Solicitor fees, OPG registration fees and what affects the total cost of putting an LPA in place.
Registering an LPA
How to register an LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian — timescales and common issues.
Certificate Provider
Who can act as a certificate provider for an LPA and what they must confirm.
Who Can Override an LPA?
The OPG, Court of Protection and the donor — who has the power to revoke or override an LPA.
LPA When Donor Dies
What happens to an LPA when the donor dies — and how the executor's role takes over.
Court of Protection
If a loved one has lost capacity without an LPA, a Court of Protection application may be needed.
Video Guide
Wills, Trusts & Estates Explained
A short video guide covering wills, trusts, inheritance tax planning and estate administration — from our specialist team.
Wills, Trusts & Estates: What You Need to Know
Our wills and estates solicitors explain the importance of making a will, how trusts work, and what happens when someone dies without a will.
Ready to Protect Your Estate?
Speak to a wills and estates solicitor today. Sensitive, professional advice — costs explained clearly before any work begins.
No obligation — talk through your options first. Chester, Cheshire & North Wales.