Michele Henderson Wills and Estate Planning Consultant
Michele is a highly experienced private client lawyer with specialist qualification in trust and estates (full member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)). Michele trained with niche law firm in Chester, followed by 12 years’ experience with LEXCEL accredited medium sized city centre firm.
Michele is a consultant to JCS Law Ltd and is warm, willing to listen to help you create all important later life planning documents such as Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Michele is also Chief examiner for the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) on Level 6 Wills & Succession papers, Level 3 Wills paper and teacher with Law Academy on CILEX level 6 probate practice module. Chief examiner for STEP on the Advanced Will Writing Certificate.
For a growing number of clients without family, Michele acts as professional attorney meaning that she assists them in handling their finances or making health and welfare decisions. For persons who did not create power of attorney whilst they had capacity, she has obtained Court of Protection orders so that their affairs can be managed.
Michele advises clients of inheritance tax liabilities and claim reliefs such as the transferable and residential nil rate bands, loss on sale reliefs etc.
On the probate side, Michele extracts both grants of probate (where there is Will) and grants of letters of administration (where no Will is in place). In many cases she deal with all aspects of the estate administration including collecting in all assets, paying bills, agreeing income and inheritance tax liabilities, production of estate accounts and paying legacies to those legally entitled. Her involvement minimises the risks and burdens for the executors or alleviates tension within a family.
Notable cases Multiple death bed Wills
Numerous wills which are likely to be contested because not all children/family members are to share in the estate
Advising a family on a deed of variation which resulted in an inheritance tax repayment of £112K
A missing beneficiary case on an estate with a property with a buyer during the housing slump in 2008. The house was sold after extracting a special grant of probate. Eventually the beneficiary was found, and the money was waiting for him!
An estate in which the sole beneficiary was under the influence of alcohol so that a court of protection order was sought to protect that person’s interests