“Friendly professional service plus a willingness to explain matters while exhibiting the patience of a saint!”
“I had 100% trust that [Emma] would be the best person for the job as she is an incredibly professional and hardworking solicitor”
Solicitor and director
Emma qualified as a solicitor in May 2017. She can help you with all aspects of probate, estate administration, wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and residential property.
Emma became a director and part-owner of Julie West Solicitors in 2022 after managing the firm for over 10 years.
Areas of practice
Training
Emma studied history at the University of Sheffield (1st). Followed by the graduate diploma in law (pass) at the University of Law Guildford and the legal practice course and masters at the University of Law London Bloomsbury (distinction).
Emma was trained as a private client solicitor by Susan Grant our previous lead private client solicitor who had over forty years of post-qualification experience when she retired in December 2021.
Outside the office
Emma is a keen gardener and an accomplished knitter who always has a project to hand.
Examples of recent work
Prepared over 120 wills and gave detailed advice on choice of will and inheritance tax consequences. From simple family wills to complex life interest and discretionary trust wills. Emma is able to advise on drafting charitable legacies, dealing with business assets and succession, protecting vulnerable children/adults, making provision for estranged children, mitigating risks of claims against estates and family fall-outs and jointly owned property.
Advised on and prepared wills and declarations of trust for cohabiting couples buying their first property together.
Prepared over 70 lasting powers of attorney for property and finance and health and welfare and assisted with two applications for Court of Protection deputyship orders.
Made a successful application for inheritance tax-free gifts out of income where lifetime gifts in the years before death exceeded £1 million.
Secured a grant of representation on intestacy where two claims where made against the estate that were successfully defended, including obtaining a “put up or shut up” order in respect of potential claimants prior to distributing the estate.
Advised on and implemented deeds of variation and appropriation during the administration of an estate that saved over £20,000 of capital gains tax.
Advised executors on the advantages and disadvantages of ending or keeping a nil rate band discretionary trust in place.
Obtained an emergency grant of probate to prevent a delayed completion where our client sadly died following exchange of contracts for the sale of her family house.
Prepared both complementary wills that limit the area of administration as well as worldwide wills where clients own assets in Spain, France, Germany and America.
Emma successfully dealt with a contested application for the removal of a caveat.
Feedback from clients
“I really appreciate your continual updates always to the point, no messing and more importantly, encouraging and optimistic.”
“I was, and remain, extremely grateful for your patience and extreme kindness during what was, at times, an unbelievably stressful time. It made an enormous difference having a solicitor who was, above all, friendly and approachable.”
“Emma is easy to talk to and gives good explanations”
“I like Emma, she is a fantastic solicitor, efficient, professional but still friendly... I would recommend anyone I know to her”
“Emma was excellent. She kept me informed at every stage of the property transfer. She also had a lovely manner and I would highly recommend her.”
“We wanted to use a local company and when I called to make enquiries I was able to speak with Emma during that first call. Emma sounded so positive and professional and we made the decision immediately.”
Read more from Emma
