Estate Planning
UK Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, drafted and explained in plain language and French.
Estate Planning
Estate planning is one of the most neglected procedures by the Francophone community in the UK. Many believe their home-country will (French, Belgian, Swiss, Québécois...) is sufficient for their UK assets. It's a mistake that can cost their loved ones dearly.
FrancoLegal supports you on the two essential tools of British law: the Will, which organises your succession, and the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), which protects your affairs in case of incapacity.
Everything is drafted in compliant legal English but explained in plain language. You understand every clause before you sign.
Estate Planning : 5 options pour vous.
Choose the option that fits your situation. Click any card for details.
Will — Single
UK Will for a single person (unmarried, divorced, widowed).
Mirror Wills — Couple
Coordinated Wills for couples, married or not.
LPA — Property OR Health
Single-type Lasting Power of Attorney. OPG fees (£82) included.
LPA Double (Property + Health)
Both LPA types for the same person. Save £125.
Mirror LPAs — Couple
Coordinated LPAs for two partners, mutual attorney designation.
Why it's complex without us
Three pitfalls individuals face when attempting these procedures alone.
Without a UK Will, your British assets are distributed under the rules of intestate succession (Administration of Estates Act 1925), which may not match your wishes — particularly for unmarried couples or blended families.
The LPA is completely different from the French mandat de protection. If you lose decision-making capacity without an LPA, your family will need to go through a lengthy and costly court procedure (Court of Protection).
Traditional British solicitors draft in English without explaining cross-border implications between the UK and the Francophone world, creating blind spots in the planning.
Frequently asked questions
Not strictly required, but strongly recommended. Without a UK Will, your British assets (bank accounts, property, pension) will be distributed under UK intestate succession law, which may differ significantly from your wishes. For unmarried couples in particular, the absence of a UK Will can leave the surviving partner with nothing.
Not automatically. Unless an express revocation clause is included, your home-country will (French, Belgian, Swiss, Québécois...) remains valid for assets located in your country of origin. We address this precisely during drafting to avoid contradictions.
You can name 1 to 4 attorneys, plus one or more replacement attorneys. Most people name 2 (often spouse and adult child). You also choose whether they decide together (jointly), separately (jointly and severally), or in combination.
This is the official Office of the Public Guardian timeline, outside our control. During that period, the LPA is not yet enforceable. We track progress and update you at each step. OPG fees (£82 per LPA) are included in our prices.
Probate (estate administration) is a reserved legal activity FrancoLegal does not perform. We refer your executors to a partner solicitor or licensed probate practitioner. Translation and legalisation of documents required for probate remain within our scope.