Recognising Expertise

We are delighted to announce that QualitySolicitors FDC Law partner, Darrell Collins, has achieved full membership of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Planners)

STEP is the leading worldwide professional body for practitioners in the fields of trusts, estates and related issues.

Full members of STEP are the most experienced and senior practitioners in the field of trusts and estates. Members advise clients on the broad business of the management of personal finance.

Darrell’s achievement reflects her experience and expertise.Darrell is based primarily at our Midsomer Norton Office, but can also be consulted in Keynsham. QualitySolicitors FDC Law are the only Keynsham solicitors to offer advice from a STEP member.

Contact Darrell on 01761 409431 if you would like to discuss setting up or dealing with a trust, inheritance tax planning or any other issues relating to wills, probate, inheritance and trusts.

Wedding Bells!

We are very happy to congratulate long-term member of staff, Sam Ibbitoson, on her recent marriage

Sam is a member of the Private Client department, based at our Frome Office, and has been a member of staff for many years.

We wish Sam and Karen every happiness for the future.

Anniversary Celebrations

On Monday, we at QualitySolicitors FDC Law were celebrating 10 years since Faulkners and Daniel & Crutwell merged in 2002, to add another chapter to our 320 year history by forming FDC Law.

Partners and staff in all four offices celebrated with cake and pink bubbly, and are looking forward to the next 10 years.

Staff at our 22 Bath Street office (Frome) celebrating the anniversary

We are sharing the celebration with our clients – if you instruct us in any new matter during December you will automatically entered into a draw to win one of 10 bottles of pink bubbly.

More pictures from the event are available on our facebook page.

Happy Anniversary!

QualitySolicitors FDC Law invite you to celebrate with us.

This month QualitySolicitors FDC Law will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary. All clients who instruct us in December 2012 will automatically be placed into a draw with ten lucky winners receiving a bottle of pink bubbly to mark this special occasion.

FDC Law is incredibly proud that it can trace its heritage back to 1692 when Mr James Wickham opened up the Daniel & Cruttwell side at Frome. In 1904 Mr Henry Faulkner opened the office that became Faulkners moving into Midsomer Norton in 1936.

On the 19th November 2002 Daniel and Cruttwell merged with Faulkners to form FDC Law. Since then we have joined national brand QualitySolicitors becoming QualitySolicitors FDC Law earlier this year. This alliance gives FDC Law an unrivalled network from which to serve our clients on a national basis if required while maintaining the hands on approach we hold so dear.

James Hollis, Senior Partner says “We are an independent high street practice. We believe people value being able to talk to a real person on the high street. These days there is a strong focus on call centre based national brands, but the sort of service they can provide is far from the level of hands-on service we offer. We hope local people will value the service we provide so we can be here serving the community for the next 300 years.”

QualitySolicitors FDC Law, proudly serving Somerset for over 300 years.

Free Information Event at Frome Library

On Wednesday 17th October, James Hollis and Stewart Donald of our Frome office provided a presentation at an event at Frome Library, held in conjunction with Kelly Hall of the local charity Positive Action on Cancer and the local charity Open Story Tellers


The meeting was well supported, it was great to see so many local people there. Both charities were able to explain the benefits that legacies would make to their operations locally. Our team talked about matters which should be borne in mind in making a will, what can happen if you do not make a will,  tax opportunities that may be taken and steps that can be taken to safeguard assets where one member of a couple has to go into residential care.
There were many questions from the floor. James and Stewart, and other members of FDC Law's Private Client department, look forward to seeing many of the guests again, to provide further help and support in making a will.

Quality Solicitors FDC Law: Supporting the Frome Carnival

We were delighted to see so many Frome residents and visitors at the Carnival on 22nd September.

Senior Partner James Hollis together with other members of staff was to be found selling carnival programmes during the day, and enjoying meeting friends and neighbours, old and new.

James Hollis and friends, Frome Carnival

James commented that "FDC Law have always played a very active role in the local community, and while our name has changed, our commitment to our community hasn't. We enjoy being a part of the Carnival."

 

QualitySolicitors FDC Law is a proud sponsor of the Frome Carnival, and of other local events.

‘Will week’ at Midsomer Norton shop

Shoppers in Midsomer Norton are being offered an extra bargain at their local Barnardo’s shop next week.
They can have a new Will written free of charge as part of a new fundraising scheme organised by the children’s charity.
Barnardo’s Will Week is an exclusive partnership with local firm QualitySolicitors FDC Law who will be offering free and impartial advice.
A representative will be at shop in The Hollies, High Street, from Monday to Friday, October 1-5, from 1-2pm.

Barnardo’s hopes the free service will encourage supporters to remember the charity in their Will, but there is no obligation to do so.

Barnardo’s shop manager Angie Cruickshank said: “Almost half of the charity’s income from the general public is donated through Wills, and the money raised is vital to continue our work with vulnerable children.
“The scheme aims to make more people aware of the benefits of writing and – after provision is made for loved ones – to consider remembering Barnardo’s as well.”

Angie added: “We always welcome donations of good-quality clothes, books, toys and games, as well as offers of help from potential volunteers, so we hope this new scheme will encourage even more people to visit us.“Working together, we can help disadvantaged children to turn their life around.”

For further information on Barnardo’s Will Week, visit www.barnardos.org.uk/freewill or call 0208 498 7880. The free will-writing service is available to people aged 55 or older.

To volunteer at the Midsomer Norton shop, call (01761) 411541.

Lasting Powers of Attorney

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are used everyday to help people with their finances. You can choose someone you trust, who can then be given the power to sort things out for you like collecting your pension, arranging to pay the bills and arranging for your care.

LPAs are particularly useful should you suffer a sudden or progressive illness which limits your mental capacity to make decisions, such as dementia or a stroke.

If you think that this article does not apply to you, think again. Here are some facts that may change your mind:-

1. Over 800,000 people in the UK currently have dementia
2. By 2021 over a million people will become sufferers of this illness.
3. Approximately 11,000 people each year suffer severe brain injury
4. There are currently 10 million people in the UK living with a neurological condition which has a significant impact on their lives
5. Each year 600,000 people are diagnosed with a neurological condition 

It is also a sad fact that Elder Abuse is becoming increasingly common. This sort of abuse can be physical, psychological or financial. An LPA is one of the best ways to protect against financial abuse.  You can appoint separate Attorneys to manage your financial affairs, from your welfare and healthcare decisions.

Why not contact us for further information and advice?

Will Aid

Will Aid is a fundraising campaign run by nine leading UK charities which takes place in November each year.  The campaign encourages people to have their Will written professionally, whilst at the same time donating to the charities involved.

During November, participating solicitors write basic Wills for clients. Instead of charging their usual fees, solicitors invite clients to donate to "Will Aid." 

The total sum raised during November 2011 was £2.1m in donations.   FDC Law Midsomer Norton office made a small contribution by raising £3,105.

FDC saw approximately 30 "appointments" – some were single people, but most were couples and, although obviously some people did see it as a way of getting a cheap will, most clients were also very appreciative of the fact that the firm was giving my time for free in order to raise money for charity.   

It was surprising the distances people travelled to our office to use this service rather than their local solicitors – from Bath, Bradford on Avon and Salisbury.

QualitySolicitors - For Whatever Life Brings TV ad

What is Probate Law?

Probate, or a Grant of Probate, is a document issued by the Court on production of the deceased person's original Will and an Oath sworn by the executors appointed by the Will. If there is no will, the equivalent document is called "Letters of Administration".

The Grant of Probate is the document which allows the executors access to deal with the assets of the deceased’s estate.  This includes enabling them to collect in monies from bank accounts, make claims on life insurance policies and transfer or sell properties belonging to a deceased person.

IS PROBATE NECESSARY?

If the deceased owned a house or land then a grant of probate is always required.   In other cases, most financial institutions want to see the grant of probate if the value of the asset is over £15,000; although each institution sets their own limit and some are lower than £15,000.

It is possible for an executor to deal with the application for grant of probate in person themselves without the assistance of a solicitor. However, it can be time consuming and sometimes confusing, with a lot of paperwork to deal with at a time when you may not feel up to it.    For this reason many executors choose to instruct a solicitor to act on their behalf.  

At FDC Law we work together with our executor clients in a completely flexible manner.  We initially arrange a without obligation meeting to discuss the extent of the deceased person’s estate.  We discuss whether or not the executors require any assistance and if so the extent of the assistance they require. Some clients ask us just to obtain the Grant of Probate for them, whilst others ask us to take on the whole administration process which would include valuing the assets, obtaining Grant of Probate, paying any legacies and liabilities, preparing a full estate account for the executors' approval and then carrying out the distribution of the estate based upon the terms of the Will with the executors authority.

To arrange a no obligation meeting, please contact a member of the Private Client Team on 01761 409423/409450 (Midsomer Norton) or 01373 475610 (Frome)  0117 916 1088 (Keynsham)