Coventry, United Kingdom
I joined Band Hatton Button LLP in January 2014 and am a Partner and Head of the Wills, Probate & Trusts Department.
My understanding and professional approach enables me to build strong relationships with clients. I act for individuals, entrepreneurs and business owners, often for several generations of the same family. My strengths lie in my ability to provide clear practical advice to her clients.
Areas of expertise include Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, the Administration of Estates and Trusts of all sizes and complexities, together with Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection matters.
I am a full member of the highly regarded Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). STEP is the leading worldwide professional association for practitioners dealing with family inheritance and succession planning. I am one of a small number of members based in Coventry.
I am also a full member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and sits on the committee of the Birmingham Branch. SFE is an independent organisation that provides specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers. In 2015, I successfully completed the Older Client Care in Practice Award (OCCP) accredited by Solicitors for the Elderly. I am also a member of the Private Client Section of the Law Society.
I read Law at Coventry University gaining a 2:1 honours degree. At my graduation ceremony from Coventry University in 1998 I was awarded the Sweet and Maxwell Prize for Best Student by Lecturers. I then went on to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies at Birmingham University where I gained a distinction. I qualified as a solicitor in 2002 following completion of my training contract with a Coventry firm. Upon qualification I spent nearly 7 years working for a High Street practice in Knowle, Solihull. Prior to joining Band Hatton Button LLP I was with a top 70 Birmingham City Centre law firm for 5 years.
I am proud to have formed excellent relationships with regional intermediaries in the accountancy, financial planning as well as the private banking arena.
I am also one of the firm’s nominee members of the Rotary Club of Kenilworth.
Born and raised in Coventry, I enjoy attending music concerts, travel, reading, walking, gardening,shopping, food, socialising, watching England rugby matches (preferably at Twickenham) and spending time with family and friends.
On a more personal note, I have climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, snorkelled in the Great Barrier Reef, enjoyed an early morning Hot Air Balloon ride over Cairns, swam with dolphins in Portugal, survived a tandem sky dive at Hinton Airfield and abseiled down the Wesleyan Building in Birmingham for charity.
Associate Solicitor in the Private Client Team, part of the Private Capital Group.
Associate Solicitor and Head of the Private Client Team.
Paralegal role leading to a Training Contract with the firm.
University
1994 - 1998
LLB Law Degree - gained a 2:1 with honours.
1998 - 1999
Legal Practice Course - gained a Distinction.
When Harry met Sally it was pretty much love at first sight. After a period of courtship, they took the plunge to sell their respective properties and buy ‘Tinker Cottage’ together on a 50/50 basis. They later got married, it was a second marriage for both of them.
Harry has two adult daughters from a previous relationship, Dolly and Polly and Sally has two adult sons from a previous relationship Bertie and Charlie.
Harry and Sally came to see us to make Wills. They were clear that they wanted to take care of the survivor, whichever of them died first, but they were concerned about what might happen after first death. What if the survivor met someone else and changed their Will and then Tinker Cottage went to a new partner? What if the survivor had to go into a care home and use up the money tied up in their home?
Harry and Sally wanted to ensure that ultimately their respective children inherited their 50% share of the Cottage and wondered what they could do. Harry and Sally wanted to ensure that things were as watertight and transparent as possible for their family. In particular, they wanted to know more about ‘Home Protection Will Trusts’.
Well, what is a Home Protection Will Trust? A Home Protection Will Trust is an affordable and easy way to protect your share of your home’s value.
Harry and Sally would need to own their home jointly at the Land Registry as 'Tenants in Common' to enable their respective Wills to control the ultimate destination of their share of Tinker Cottage.
Let's say that Harry were to die first. Under the terms of his Will, his 50% interest in the Cottage would pass into a Will Trust (full details of the trust - including Sally's obligations to pay the outgoings - would be set out in Will itself). This means that Sally would have the legal right to reside at Tinker Cottage and have full use of Harry's 50% share for her lifetime. On Sally's death that share of Tinker Cottage would pass to Harry’s ultimate beneficiaries, Dolly and Polly.
To be clear, Sally does not own Harry's 50% share of Tinker Cottage. Sally continues to own her own 50% interest and her Will would be in mirror format and should set out that her sons Bertie and Charlie are the ultimate beneficiaries of her 50% share of Tinker Cottage.
If, in the future, Sally meets a toy boy then she cannot change the arrangements that Harry has put in place in respect of his half share.
Should Sally need to go into long term care in the future then only her 50% interest in the cottage could potentially be utilised towards funding her long term care. Harry's share should not be taken into account.
More information on Home Protection Will Trusts can be found on the link below.
For individual advice and assistance please contact Michelle Gavin, Probate and Trusts Team, Band Hatton Button LLP.
Coventry University
1998
Older Client Care in Practice Award (OCCP) accredited by Solicitors for the Elderly
STEP is the leading worldwide professional association for practitioners dealing with family inheritance and succession planning.
Law Society Private Client Section
