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Gorvins Solicitors is one of the North West's leading providers of personal legal services. Our highly skilled, professional and approachable team of solicitors will always put your individual needs at the heart of everything we do.

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Author: Michael Smoult
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Wills, Trust & Probate

Michael Smoult

Partner & Head of Wills, Trusts & Probate

michael.smoult@gorvins.com

About Michael

Mike is a Partner and Head of the Wills, Trusts & Probate Team. Mike qualified in 2010 and joined Gorvins in 2011. He was promoted to Partner in 2018. Mike is a member of the Society of Trusts & Estate Practitioners (STEP) with a wide range of expertise. Mike is a member of the Family Business Team and helps family businesses plan for the future. Mike is a member of the Will & Estates Dispute Team and recognised by Legal 500 for his work acting in complex estate disputes under the Inheritance Act 1975, mental incapacity and many others. Mike is also well-known for his work applying to the Court of Protection on behalf of Deputy’s to gain Court approval for completing statutory wills.

Areas of Expertise

Will Preparation (including asset protection and planning for disabled beneficiaries)
Complex Estate Administrations
Trusts (lifetime trusts, personal injury trusts, declaration of trust and asset protection trusts)
Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection applications
Contentious Probate and Estate Disputes
Inheritance Tax Planning and Family Business Succession Planning

TESTIMONIALS

What Michael's clients say...

"Service was first class from start to finish, Mike Smoult dealt with our Wills in a first class manner and gave clear and concise guidance so we fully understood the options open to us in drafting our Wills to our specific requirements. I would have no hesitation in recommending Mike in the future as he was totally professional throughout the process"

"Thank you so much for all your help you gave us regarding my mums will and estate and the way you helped my mum in her final months of her illness, so professional and very caring. Thank you for everything."

"Michael made us feel very welcome and was reassuringly sensitive and supportive throughout our journey. He also gave great advice to my husband’s parents. Thank you Michael!"

Carers Week 2024: A Chance to Get the Advice and Support You Need

Blog

Carers Week 2024: A Chance to Get the Advice and Support You Need

The Right Choice: The importance of choosing the right attorney

Blog

The Right Choice: The importance of choosing the right attorney

Lasting power of attorney – Why it’s important to act early

Blog

Lasting power of attorney – Why it’s important to act early

Is my will enforceable? – What can happen if a will is unfair

Blog

Is my will enforceable? – What can happen if a will is unfair

Why you need a will if you’re running a family business

Blog

Why you need a will if you’re running a family business

Choosing your Power of Attorney

Blog

Choosing your Power of Attorney

Avoiding The Anguish Of No Digital Legacy

News

Avoiding The Anguish Of No Digital Legacy

Who Should Be the Executor of My Will?

Blog

Who Should Be the Executor of My Will?

What Would Happen If I Die Without a Will?

Blog

What Would Happen If I Die Without a Will?

A Rise in Disputes Over Ashes

Blog

A Rise in Disputes Over Ashes

Disputes Could Rocket If Will Laws Are Relaxed

Blog

Disputes Could Rocket If Will Laws Are Relaxed

Plan For Your Future To Enjoy Today

Blog

Plan For Your Future To Enjoy Today

Unsent Text Message Accepted as Deceased Mans Will

Blog

Unsent Text Message Accepted as Deceased Mans Will

Rising Numbers of Exercise Fans Making a Will

Blog

Rising Numbers of Exercise Fans Making a Will

What Will Happen to Your Digital Legacy?

Blog

What Will Happen to Your Digital Legacy?

I’m Too Young and Busy to Make a Will

Blog

I’m Too Young and Busy to Make a Will

Is Will Law Outdated?

Blog

Is Will Law Outdated?

Lasting Power of Attorney For Your Business

Blog

Lasting Power of Attorney For Your Business

How Marriage Affects Your Will

Blog

How Marriage Affects Your Will

Planning for Your Future

Blog

Planning for Your Future

No Will Leaving Young Families Vulnerable

Blog

No Will Leaving Young Families Vulnerable

5 key considerations For Your Family Business’s Succession Plan

Blog

5 key considerations For Your Family Business’s Succession Plan

Manchester are Least Prepared in Powers of Attorney

Blog

Manchester are Least Prepared in Powers of Attorney

Are you responsible for others if you inherit from a Will?

Blog

Are you responsible for others if you inherit from a Will?

When and Who Can Challenge a Will?

Blog

When and Who Can Challenge a Will?

Planned Probate Fee Hikes Could Hit Estates Hard

News

Planned Probate Fee Hikes Could Hit Estates Hard

Employers Need to do More for Carers in the Workplace

Blog

Employers Need to do More for Carers in the Workplace

Future Proof your Business for the Generations to come

Blog

Future Proof your Business for the Generations to come

Getting your affairs in order before illness strikes

Blog

Getting your affairs in order before illness strikes

The Importance of Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples

News

The Importance of Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples

Cohabitee Wins Surprise Court Victory But Lesson to be Learned

Blog

Cohabitee Wins Surprise Court Victory But Lesson to be Learned

Rugby and Contact Sports: Should they be banned for Children?

Blog

Rugby and Contact Sports: Should they be banned for Children?

The Battle With Dementia And Ways To Cope

Blog

The Battle With Dementia And Ways To Cope

Avoid A Feuding Family Dispute Over Property

Blog

Avoid A Feuding Family Dispute Over Property

The Strain on Social Care

News

The Strain on Social Care

I’m Young, Fit and Healthy: I don’t need a Power of Attorney…do I?

Blog

I’m Young, Fit and Healthy: I don’t need a Power of Attorney…do I?

Benefit Cap Reduction for Carers of Disabled Adults?

Blog

Benefit Cap Reduction for Carers of Disabled Adults?

Top 5 Reasons Why Same-Sex Couples Should Make A Will

Blog

Top 5 Reasons Why Same-Sex Couples Should Make A Will

Tick it off the list and plan for Business Success-ion in 2016

Blog

Tick it off the list and plan for Business Success-ion in 2016

Discrimination on Pension Rights for Same-Sex Couples?

Blog

Discrimination on Pension Rights for Same-Sex Couples?

The Biggest Family Business Challenges

Blog

The Biggest Family Business Challenges

Complex family circumstances & row over inheritance

Blog

Complex family circumstances & row over inheritance

Will disputes on the rise – could your Will be declared invalid?

Blog

Will disputes on the rise – could your Will be declared invalid?

How Often Should I Change My Will?

Blog

How Often Should I Change My Will?

What happens to my digital life?

Blog

What happens to my digital life?

Will I be affected by the changes to Inheritance Tax Rules?

Blog

Will I be affected by the changes to Inheritance Tax Rules?

Crisis in Social Care – can it be saved?

Blog

Crisis in Social Care – can it be saved?

Carers Week – a chance to get the advice and support you need

Blog

Carers Week – a chance to get the advice and support you need

Inheritance Tax – Should it go to your family more than your country?

Blog

Inheritance Tax – Should it go to your family more than your country?

Not one size fits all when it comes to care

Blog

Not one size fits all when it comes to care

Funny Man’s Estate to be Contested

Blog

Funny Man’s Estate to be Contested

How YOU can prepare for the Costs of Later Life

Blog

How YOU can prepare for the Costs of Later Life

Parental responsibility… what happens if you’re not around?

Blog

Parental responsibility… what happens if you’re not around?

Who’s In Line For The Throne?

Blog

Who’s In Line For The Throne?

Ensuring Asset Protection With Trusts

Blog

Ensuring Asset Protection With Trusts

When should I make a Will?

Blog

When should I make a Will?

Dementia Friends

Blog

Dementia Friends

Solicitor’s Dismay at Lack of Bank Staff Training on Power of Attorney

Blog

Solicitor’s Dismay at Lack of Bank Staff Training on Power of Attorney

Not on the boardroom agenda (part 1)…

Blog

Not on the boardroom agenda (part 1)…

Let the right one in …

Blog

Let the right one in …

Funding Employment Tribunal claims

Blog

Funding Employment Tribunal claims

Is there a cuckoo in the nest?

Blog

Is there a cuckoo in the nest?

Choosing your Lasting Power of Attorneys

Blog

Choosing your Lasting Power of Attorneys

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