Personal Legal Services

Stephenson Burns Solicitors specialise in all aspects of legal work relating to Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning (including passing on the family business, farm or family home in a tax-efficient manner), Capital Taxes (pre and post-death tax-planning), Probate and the Administration of Estates, Litigation and Conveyancing. This single focus allows us to progress matters rapidly while giving expert advice to our clients in a clear and concise manner.

As well as providing a range of advisory services to legal and financial firms, Stephenson Burns Solicitors provide a full range of legal services to members of the public who find themselves in need of advice and support in dealing with the often complex issues surrounding Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Capital Taxes, Probate and Administration of Estates and related Litigation including advising and/or giving independent legal advice to spouses, civil partners and co-habitants.

In addition, Stephenson Burns Solicitors have a particular expertise in dealing with elderly and vulnerable clients including advising on issues of capacity, issues arising from their care needs and providing independent legal advice. Radical changes in relation to the law dealing with the issues concerning the elderly or vulnerable have arisen under the new Mental Capacity Legislation.

Anne Stephenson is a founding member and Úna Burns is a member of the Committee of Solicitors for the Elderly Ireland, a professional organisation whose members are solicitors and barristers in private practice who have specialist knowledge and training in dealing with the elderly or vulnerable adults.

Personal Services

Preparation & Drafting of Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

Stephenson Burns Solicitors have many years experience in the drafting of Wills and Trusts. Advance planning and careful crafting of Wills and Trusts is essential to avoid legal and tax problems in later years.

The analysis of the potential future legal and tax consequences of inadequately drafted Wills and Trusts is an area in which Stephenson Burns Solicitors is particularly experienced, and the firm has an expertise in the review and where necessary re-drafting of such documents to avoid or minimise future liabilities or misunderstandings.

General Administration of Estates & Trusts

Stephenson Burns Solicitors can provide all necessary legal services to Legal Personal Representatives and/or trustees and beneficiaries.

We deal with all aspects of the Administration of a deceased’s estate from preparing and filing the SA2 (Probate) and all the papers necessary to obtain a Grant of Representation, dealing with all taxes arising both pre and post death, through to the final distribution/vesting the assets of the estate in the beneficiaries and the preparation of estate accounts.

We can also advise, where appropriate, on how to vary the provisions of the deceased’s will or the effect on the distribution of the deceased’s estate under the laws of intestacy by use of Deeds of Disclaimers and/or Deeds of Family Arrangement and Variation of Trusts.

Further, we can offer independent legal advice to beneficiaries and/or the surviving legal spouse/civil partner/co-habitant who are unsure of their legal position.

In addition, we can advise Legal Personal Representatives or beneficiaries on disputes arising from contested wills or disputes arising during the administration of an estate including, but not exclusively; challenges to  the validity of a will due to incapacity, undue influence and/or fraud, inadequate provision by a parent for their child and mal-administration of an estate.

Protection of Vulnerable Clients

Anne Stephenson is a co-founder and member of Solicitors for the Elderly Ireland which is an independent national association of solicitors and barristers concerned with improving the availability and delivery of specialist legal advice to older and vulnerable people, their families and carers.

Stephenson Burns Solicitors have dealt with many situations where this is the case, and consequently has extensive experience in dealing with the following matters:

  • Drafting a will so that a vulnerable/mentally incapacitated beneficiary may be protected.
  • Wardship including not only taking instructions for and preparing the documents required for application for wardship but also liaising with not only family members but the relevant medical practitioners/geriatricians.
  • Power of Attorney including general/specific powers of attorney and the preparation and registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney together with advising the donors of powers of attorney on their legal rights and the attorney on their rights and duties.
  • Having Foreign Enduring Powers of Attorney registered in Ireland.
 

Additional services

Probate Litigation

Stephenson Burns Solicitors has extensive experience in probate litigation and can assist beneficiaries who have concerns re the will/estate, or the distribution of the estate, or the manner in which the estate itself is being administered.

Conveyancing - Sale & Purchase of Property

Stephenson Burns Solicitors provides a full conveyancing/remortgaging service for residential, vendors and purchasers.

Preparation & Drafting of Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

Stephenson Burns Solicitors have many years experience in the drafting of Wills and Trusts. Advance planning and careful crafting of Wills and Trusts is essential to avoid legal and tax problems in later years. 

The analysis of the potential future legal and tax consequences of inadequately drafted Wills and Trusts is an area in which Stephenson Burns Solicitors is particularly experienced, and the firm has  an expertise in the review and where necessary re-drafting of such documents to avoid or minimise future liabilities or misunderstandings.

General Administration of Estates & Trusts

Stephenson Burns Solicitors can provide all necessary legal services to Legal Personal Representatives and/or trustees and beneficiaries.

We deal with all aspects of the Administration of a deceased’s estate from preparing and filing the Inland Revenue Affidavit and all the papers necessary to obtain a Grant of Representation, dealing with all taxes arising both pre and post death, through to the final distribution/vesting the assets of the estate in the beneficiaries and the preparation of estate accounts.

We can also advise, where appropriate, on how to vary the provisions of the deceased’s will or the effect on the distribution of the deceased’s estate under the laws of intestacy by use of Deeds of Disclaimers and/or Deeds of Family Arrangement and Variation of Trusts.

Further, we can offer independent legal advice to beneficiaries and/or the surviving legal spouse/civil partner/co-habitant who are unsure of their legal position.

In addition, we can advise Legal Personal Representatives or beneficiaries on disputes arising from contested wills or disputes arising during the administration of an estate including, but not exclusively; challenges to  the validity of a will due to incapacity, undue influence and/or fraud, inadequate provision by a parent for their child and mal-administration of an estate.

As we have developed highly efficient systems to streamline the necessary processes, Stephenson Burns Solicitors can typically obtain a Grant of Representation within approximately three months from instructions and complete the administration (provided there is no litigation arising) within approximately six months.

Protection of Vulnerable Clients

Anne Stephenson is a co-founder and member of Solicitors for the Elderly Ireland which is an independent national association of solicitors and barristers concerned with improving the availability and delivery of specialist legal advice to older and vulnerable people, their families and carers.

Unfortunately, situations can arise where clients (or family members of clients) may need to provide protection for vulnerable individuals.

Stephenson Burns Solicitors have dealt with many situations where this is the case, and consequently has extensive experience in dealing with the following matters:

  • Drafting a will so that a vulnerable/mentally incapacitated beneficiary may be protected.
  • Wardship including not only taking instructions for and preparing the documents required for application for wardship but also liaising with not only family members but the relevant medical practitioners/geriatricians.
  • Power of Attorney including general/specific powers of attorney and the preparation and registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney together with advising the donors of powers of attorney on their legal rights and the attorney on their rights and duties.
  • Having Foreign Enduring Powers of Attorney registered in Ireland.