Wills and estate planning information guide
Making a will can give you and your family peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be met after you die. Whether...
Depending on your situation, you might be able to get free legal advice, or help to cover some of your legal costs.
Depending on the advice you need, you might be able to access it for free.
Some of the organisations listed below can give you free initial legal advice, before helping you decide what to do next. Others may be able to help with more complex cases – and even represent you at a tribunal.
Age UK doesn't offer legal advice – but, through our Advice Line or through your local Age UK, we can point you to trusted sources of specialist information and advice to help you with your situation.
Our free national Advice Line is open from 8am to 7pm, 365 days a year. To speak to someone, just call 0800 678 1602.
Or, if you'd prefer to talk to someone in person, your local Age UK can help. They'll also have their own information and advice service, which can help you with things like benefits, debt, housing and health.
Legal aid can sometimes help with the cost of legal advice or bringing a case to a tribunal. It’s not available to everyone – it’s only for eligible cases, and only if you have a low income. Eligible cases might include:
If an advice agency or free service can’t help, you might need to pay to get advice from a private solicitor. This could be for making a will or setting up a power of attorney, for instance, or buying or selling a house.
Different solicitors specialise in different areas of law. To get started:
1. Search for solicitors using the directory on the Law Society website.
2. Call a few to compare the services they offer – and don’t forget to ask them about their fees so you can compare these too.
3. Before you hire them, check a solicitor’s record using the Solicitors Register on the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority website.
If you aren’t happy with the service you get from a solicitor, you can make a complaint. You should complain to the solicitor’s firm directly first. However, if you feel that your complaint isn’t resolved, get in touch with the Legal Ombudsman, who can investigate complaints about solicitors. Their service is free and independent.
Find out more about making a complain on the Legal Ombudsman website
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.
Making a will can give you and your family peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be met after you die. Whether...
No one wants to think that there might come a time when you’re no longer able to make your own decisions. But if that...
When someone dies, there are a number of practical things that have to be done. For some, these tasks may be a...
Sorting out the wills and estates when someone dies may be the last thing on your mind, or it may be a welcome...
How you deal with someone's estate – their money, property and possessions – after they die depends on whether they...
A power of attorney is a way of giving someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf if...