NJ Legal Services

Estate planning and financial advice from Nottingham

NJ Legal Services is a practice specialising in estate planning and financial planning, with a stated focus on listening to each client and establishing what they want to achieve before proposing a solution. Its work centres on legal services — wills and probate, the creation of trusts and financial planning — and the firm states that it serves clients across the UK, with particular coverage of Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield, Lincoln and England and Wales more broadly.

The practice presents itself as qualified with STEP, The Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners, and registered with the IPW, the Institution of Professional Will Writers. It also reports more than ten years of experience in this area and says it operates under a strict code of conduct with compliance and a client charter in place.

Wills, probate and lasting powers of attorney

The legal side of the practice covers the documents most closely tied to succession and decision-making. In will writing, the firm advises on which type of will suits a client and handles the full process and paperwork, including the choice of beneficiaries and the option of setting out funeral arrangements.

For probate, it explains the grant of probate process that follows a death where a will exists, ensuring that money and inheritance reach those named in the will, and offers either guidance on applying or completion of the applications on the client's behalf. It also prepares lasting powers of attorney, which allow an individual to be appointed to manage another person's finances or health and welfare should that person lose the capacity to decide for themselves, guiding clients through the process from start to finish.

Trust structures offered

Trusts form a substantial part of the service, presented as a way to protect money, investments, land or buildings intended to pass to family. The practice sets out several distinct structures:

• Property Protection Trusts, which protect a home or property and can pass the client's share to their children; the property must be held as tenants in common, and the firm advises on how to arrange this and completes the trust.
• Discretionary Trusts, set up to hold assets for beneficiaries, for example so that an inheritance is only passed on when the beneficiary reaches 18.
• Disabled Trusts, used where a beneficiary named in a will receives a government benefit, since a cash gift could affect the amount of benefit received; the firm advises whether this structure is needed and completes the required documents.

Financial planning, care and inheritance tax

On the financial side, the firm works with partners described as having many years of experience in financial planning and advice covering investments, pensions, life cover and inheritance tax planning. Long term care planning is offered to help clients plan and protect savings if they or a loved one need care in later life, a need the firm notes can be very expensive.

Business asset protection addresses owners who want a business or its assets passed to family while keeping assets and control with people of their choosing, using a trust for that purpose. Inheritance tax advice looks at the value of the entire estate to assess the level of tax due, examines how much might have to be paid and advises on ways to minimise the rate.

Consultations, document storage and client feedback

The practice offers a free, no-obligation consultation at a time and place to suit the client, and states that it is happy to meet clients in person, speak by phone or hold video consultations, an approach it highlights as convenient for clients at home. Document storage also appears among its services. Emergency calls are returned on Sundays.

NJ Legal Services reports a 5.0 out of 5 rating from the reviews displayed on its site, with 98% of respondents rating the service excellent and 2% very good. The published comments, attributed to named clients, describe the adviser as professional, respectful and knowledgeable and mention help given after a bereavement, including assistance provided remotely to a client based in Salisbury, Wiltshire. The firm also states that it holds ELITE PRO status on Bark.

Support for NHS staff

The practice states that it supports NHS staff across Nottinghamshire, including a 20% saving on any of its services for staff.