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The 5 Best Estate Lawyers in Manchester for Wills, Probate & Peace of Mind
Sorting out a will or a loved one’s estate isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of a good afternoon. Having dealt with good property lawyers before, I know how much easier things feel when the legal speak gets translated into plain English.
Finding the best estate lawyer in Manchester can make a big difference when probate, trusts, or valuable assets are involved. You want someone who listens properly, explains the options clearly, and doesn’t bury you in jargon.
I looked at local firms that handle both straightforward planning and more complicated family matters. The aim was simple: find lawyers who can make an already weighty process feel a bit less daunting.
How much does it cost to hire an estate lawyer in Manchester?
Estate lawyers in Manchester may charge fixed fees, hourly rates of around £225 to £375, or a percentage of the estate.
A basic single will typically costs £150 to £300 + VAT. Mirror wills for couples are usually £250 to £500 + VAT.
A Lasting Power of Attorney may cost £300 to £450 for one person. Couples may pay around £600 to £1,200 + VAT.
A fixed-fee grant of probate service generally costs £750 to £1,500 + VAT. Full estate administration can range from £1,500 to £15,000+ + VAT, depending on complexity.
Some probate lawyers charge based on the estate’s value instead. This is typically around 1.5% to 3% of the gross estate value.
1. Irwin Mitchell Solicitors
Website
Address: One St Peter’s Square
Contact: 0161 464 8424
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM
Irwin Mitchell is the sort of firm I’d look at when an estate dispute has gone well beyond a simple paperwork problem.
Their will, trust and estate disputes team is one of the biggest specialist practices in the country, which gives them plenty of depth for complicated cases.
What I like is that they can pull in tax, property and family specialists when an inheritance issue spills into other areas. That makes the setup feel much more joined-up than being bounced between separate firms.
They offer several funding options for dispute work, depending on the case. Their central St Peter’s Square location is handy too, especially if you’re coming in by tram or train.
The main snag is parking, with only a small number of bookable visitor spaces.
They’re closed on weekends as well, so face-to-face appointments generally need weekday planning.
2. Versus Law Solicitors
Website
Address: 10 Lapwing Lane
Contact: 0161 249 5087 | Fax: 0161 445 4494 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM
Versus Law feels like a sensible pick if you want estate planning explained without too much legal fog. Their team handles wills, probate, trusts, and powers of attorney, so there’s decent breadth under one roof.
What stood out to me is the emphasis on tailoring advice to the client rather than treating every estate like a copy-and-paste job.
That matters when family circumstances, property, or inheritance wishes start getting a bit more complicated.
They can help with both straightforward planning and more involved estate matters. Having several related services together can make things feel less fragmented when one issue leads into another.
The main drawback is that a broader full-service firm may be more than some people need for a very simple will. Complex probate work can still become time-consuming and costly, no matter how organised the solicitor is.
Customer Review
Highly Professional and Efficient Conveyancing
I was suggested Versus Law by the seller’s estate agent and I am so thankful to her. Nick, Matt and Natalie have been brilliant and highly professional. They were very quick to respond and to keep me posted. I am so happy to inform you that the whole conveyancing process took not more than 4 weeks to completion. I highly recommend them for any conveyancing. Five-star service. Brilliant.
- Brinda Vihari Somanchi | Google Reviews
3. HLF Berry Solicitors LLP
Website
Address: 446 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton
Contact: 0161 860 7123 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM
HLF Berry has the kind of local history that can feel reassuring when estate matters get stressful.
Its roots in Greater Manchester go back more than a century collectively, with offices in Chorlton, Failsworth, and Bury.
I like that the team covers more than just basic will drafting. They can help with probate, estate administration, trusts, intestacy, powers of attorney, and inheritance disputes.
That broader setup can be useful when one legal issue starts bumping into another. It saves you from feeling like you’re assembling a legal jigsaw from three different firms.
The flip side is that it’s a multi-practice firm rather than a niche estate-planning boutique. If your needs are highly specialised, you may prefer a team focused almost entirely on complex trusts or high-value estates.
Customer Reviews
Excellent Service for Legal Matters
Excellent service from start to finish. I was pleased to be in touch with HLF Berry and Paul specifically after struggling to find an approachable solicitor to handle Letters of Administration. Paul answered all queries clearly and professionally, and was quick to respond. I also used Paul for conveyancing for the sale of a house in the estate and again everything was handled smoothly. I was surprised how quickly we were able to exchange contracts, just over 2 months after an offer was accepted! I would definitely use these again for a legal matter.
- Rachel | Google Reviews
Fantastic Team for Smooth Conveyancing
Highly recommend the team at HLF Berry for Conveyancing. If you are looking for a team who wants you to move quickly then and get your move to completion, this is the team to choose.
Special thanks to Imogen who worked hard to get our sale and purchase through to completion. Imogen’s responsiveness to any queries raised was amazing. The estate agents involved in the move also commended Imogen’s professionalism and responsiveness.
Thank you
- Paul Johnson | Google Reviews
4. Myerson Solicitors
Website
Address: Grosvenor House, 20 Barrington Rd, Altrincham
Contact: 0161 941 4000 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 6 PM (Phone lines: Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 8 PM | Saturday, 9 AM – 5 PM | Sunday, 10 AM – 4 PM)
Myerson looks especially strong if your estate involves more than a straightforward will. Their private client team handles inheritance tax, trusts, succession planning, business assets, and high-value estates.
What caught my eye is that their wills, trusts, and probate lawyers are STEP members. That gives the team a reassuring level of specialist depth when the numbers or family arrangements get complicated.
The firm is 100% employee-owned, which is a fairly unusual setup for a law practice.
Their estate lawyers can work alongside property and commercial specialists when one issue starts spilling into another.
The trade-off is that this is a solicitor-led service rather than a quick DIY digital-will setup. If you only want something basic and ultra-fast, the process may feel more involved than necessary.
Customer Reviews
Fantastic Firm, Highly Recommended Service
Fantastic firm couldn’t recommend enough !!!! Nicola and associates worked so hard to achieve a big win for me on my grandfather’s estate. The knowledge that they all have in their own areas astounded me and they are all such genuine, lovely women.
- levi naylor | Google Reviews
Incredible Support During Difficult Times
I wanted to extend my deepest thanks to your team—especially to Nicola—for the incredible support you provided to my mum during a very difficult time.
Nicola was amazing throughout the entire process. Her professionalism, compassion, and dedication were truly appreciated. Thanks to her expertise and guidance, my mum was able to successfully receive some funds from her late husband’s estate.
Please pass on our sincere gratitude to Nicola. Her help made a significant difference to my mum, and we are incredibly thankful.
May God bless your company to continue helping others.
- Joyce Simpson | Google Reviews
5. SAS Daniels LLP
Website
Address: 30 Greek St, Stockport
Contact: 0161 475 7676
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 5:30 PM
SAS Daniels is a good fit if you want to stay in control of how much legal help you actually use. Executors can hand over the whole estate administration job or bring the team in for just the trickier bits.
I like that flexibility because probate rarely looks the same from one family to the next.
They can help with grants of probate, estate administration, and professional executor work when you’d rather have someone neutral handling the paperwork.
The firm has a large team and publishes pricing information for several private-client services. That makes it easier to get a feel for the likely cost before things get too far down the road.
The downside is that full estate administration can be more support than some executors really need. If the estate is simple, paying for end-to-end help may feel a bit much.
Customer Reviews
Proactive and Responsive Property Services
I was recommended SAS Daniel’s via the estate agent I was using, and I was hesitant to use them. However, I’m so glad I did. Louise was proactive throughout the entire process, kept us informed and would get back to me immediately regarding any queries/ updates I needed. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their services to anyone. I will definitely be using Louise and her team again in the future for any property transactions.
- Amrit Bassi | Google Reviews
Amazing Purchase Experience, Smooth Process
SAS Daniels were recommended to me by the estate agents for the purchase of my new property. Charlotte has been amazing from start to finish. Everything went smoothly. I will definitely be using it again in the future.
- Alia Amjad | Google Reviews
