I help bereaved families by handling the entire estate administration or applying for probate on behalf of the personal representatives. I can, often immediately, release the pressure of the difficult days that follow someone’s death by liaising with funeral directors, financial institutions, tax offices, estate agents, financial advisers, auction houses and utilities.
I take care of all the legal issues concerning administration of various types of assets and discharging debts of a person who has passed away, allowing relatives and friends to focus on each other, accept their new reality, and begin to reflect on happy memories of their loved one as soon as possible.
My practical experience and sensitive approach allow me to offer the best professional guidance and support. I take time to get to know the family and understand their individual circumstances to help personal representatives conclude the deceased’s financial affairs, maximise the size of the inheritance for beneficiaries, and promptly distribute the estate.
When it comes to individuals’ and couples’ own planning for the inevitable, the practical knowledge of the estate administration allows me to offer my clients workable solutions to preserve their wealth and leave a lasting legacy. I provide a complete range of bespoke, tax efficient and fully effective Will writing services, leaving my clients free to enjoy life knowing that their loved ones will be protected.
I also help families to plan for the future by creating lasting powers of attorney, so that in the event of serious health problems, the timely, expensive and often intrusive application to the Court of Protection can be avoided.
In addition I assist Polish clients across the firm in overcoming the language barrier and navigate them through a legal system completely different from the one they know from their motherland. I have been recognised by Chartered Institute of Linguists as a highly competent language practitioner and am therefore qualified to interpret and translate from English to Polish.
‘Thank you for the excellent work you have carried out for us.’
Areas of Expertise
Case Study
Inheritance tax advice to a bereaved son who did not realise that there was a large inheritance tax liability; establishing communication with HMRC, calculating the amount of tax due, stopping the interest from continuing to accrue and ultimately assuming conduct of the administration procedure taking the pressure off the bereaved son completely.
Administering an estate featuring an unresolved conflict within the deceased’s family; taking time to listen carefully to the relatives to really understand the family dynamics, responding objectively to anger and animosity, and diffusing heightened emotions to facilitate effective administration procedure.
Emergency will, severance of joint tenancy, advance directive and both types of lasting power of attorney for a client with an inoperable brain tumour; carrying out all the necessary work over a weekend, following the receipt of instructions on a Friday afternoon, giving appropriate advice, drafting all documents for client’s approval and preparing top copies in readiness for client’s signature.
Preparing and registering both types of lasting power of attorney for a client with early-onset Alzheimer’s to legalise the very effective, yet informal arrangements he has had for many years with his children, whilst he still had the necessary mental capacity to execute the documents; taking instructions and providing appropriate advice, obtaining a specialist medical report, arranging for an independent professional to act as a certificate provider, coordinating the signing of the documents, completing and submitting the documents to the Office of the Public Guardian for registration.
What others say
‘Thank you for understanding the urgency of the situation and for coming into the office on a Saturday.’ – Client’s daughter-in-law
‘Thank you very much Arek – you were excellent.’ – Client
‘Thank you for going beyond the call of duty.’
Away from the office
I enjoy opera, ballet (occasionally theatre) and am a very keen Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra follower.
When I am not at work, or at a concert, I am most likely to be at a meeting of the Committee of the Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Historical Association, helping to organise its regular events. To meet the challenges of a busy lifestyle, I train regularly at my local gym.
