Business Details
Your Trusted Partner for Legal Services in Brighton
Renaissance Legal is a specialist legal practice dedicated to supporting families, carers, and individuals in planning for the future. With expertise in Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection applications, and Inheritance Tax Planning, we provide tailored legal solutions for disabled and vulnerable individuals, as well as those in later life. Our team combines deep sector knowledge with a compassionate approach, ensuring clients receive clear, practical advice aligned with their unique circumstances.Based in Brighton with offices in London and virtual appointments nationwide, we pride ourselves on exceptional client care, evidenced by our award-winning reputation and recognition in leading legal directories. Our commitment to understanding the complex needs of our clients ensures we deliver forward-thinking, economically sound solutions that protect families and safeguard legacies.
Services
Wills
Trusts
Inheritance Tax Planning
Estate Administration
Powers of Attorney
Court of Protection
Welfare Benefits Services
Trustee Services
Executor Services
Disabled Person's Trusts
Highlights and features
- Award-winning team specialising in vulnerable client legal services
- Personalised approach for disabled and vulnerable individuals' needs
- Recognised in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories
- Flexible appointments including Zoom for UK-wide accessibility
- Proven expertise in Court of Protection and Trust management
Associations and certifications
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
What people say
Award-winning service
Highly Commended Managing Partner
Excellent client care
Specialist expertise
Empathetic team
Services
Wills
Our Wills service guides clients through creating legally sound documents that reflect their wishes. We specialise in complex family situations, ensuring protection for disabled beneficiaries while minimising tax liabilities. With compassionate, jargon-free advice, we help clients secure their family's future through meticulously crafted Wills that comply with current legislation and personal circumstances.
Trusts
We establish tailored Trusts for asset protection, tax planning, and disabled individual support. Our experts advise on appropriate Trust structures, from Discretionary to Disabled Person's Trusts, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. The service includes Trust creation, ongoing administration, and tax return preparation, providing long-term financial security for beneficiaries.
Inheritance Tax Planning
Our strategic Inheritance Tax Planning combines Will drafting and Trust structures to lawfully reduce tax liabilities. We assess each client's estate to implement solutions like lifetime gifts and Trust arrangements, ensuring wealth preservation while maintaining financial flexibility for families and vulnerable beneficiaries.
Estate Administration
We guide executors through complex probate processes with sensitivity and expertise. Services include Grant of Probate applications, tax reporting, asset distribution, and Trust establishment from estates. Our approach prioritises regulatory compliance while minimising stress during emotionally challenging times for beneficiaries.
Powers of Attorney
We create bespoke Lasting Powers of Attorney for property, financial, and welfare decisions. Our specialists advise on appropriate attorney appointments, document drafting, and registration with the Office of the Public Guardian, ensuring clients' interests are protected should mental capacity be lost.
People
Philip Warford
Managing Director
With over 20 years' experience, Philip leads our team in vulnerable client legal services. Recognised by Chambers UK as a leading private client lawyer, he combines technical expertise with compassionate guidance for complex family needs.
Katherine Miller
Director
Specialising in Trusts and Court of Protection matters, Katherine brings extensive experience in protecting vulnerable clients' interests. Her expertise ensures tailored legal solutions that balance regulatory compliance with family needs.
Gina Cucciniello
Senior Associate Solicitor
Gina focuses on Wills and estate planning, supporting families with disabled members. Her approach combines legal precision with empathetic advice to create comprehensive succession plans that safeguard beneficiaries' futures.
Nicola Spruce
Welfare Benefits Adviser
Nicola specialises in benefits maximisation for vulnerable families. Her expertise in DLA, PIP, and Universal Credit claims ensures clients access rightful support while aligning benefits with broader estate planning strategies.
Deborah Henn
Senior Associate FCILEx
Deborah provides expert probate and estate administration services. With a focus on complex estates, she ensures smooth asset distribution while maintaining compliance with tax and regulatory requirements for vulnerable beneficiaries.
Questions
What legal services do you specialise in for vulnerable families?
We specialise in Wills, Trusts, Court of Protection applications, and Inheritance Tax Planning tailored for disabled individuals and their families.
Can I create a Will if I have a disabled child?
Yes, we create bespoke Wills incorporating Disabled Person's Trusts to protect your child's inheritance while maintaining benefit entitlements.
How do you assist with Court of Protection matters?
We handle deputyship applications and ongoing compliance, ensuring legal authority to manage affairs for individuals lacking mental capacity.
Do you offer remote legal consultations?
Yes, we provide Zoom appointments across the UK for all our legal services, including Trust and Will planning.
How are your legal fees structured?
We offer transparent pricing with fixed-fee options for most services, providing clear cost breakdowns before work commences.
Can you help with benefits claims alongside estate planning?
Our specialist benefits team coordinates with legal advisors to ensure estate plans align with clients' benefit entitlements and care needs.
Videos
Reviews (6)
Susan Graves
Jan 28, 2022
Report
Mencap recommended Renaissance Legal after we attended one of their workshops for financial planning for parents of learning disabled children. The information they provided was excellent and the process of staging this in the weeks prior to our face to face meeting meant we never felt overwhelmed. Everybody we had dealings with was very professional and knowledgeable and made what is an emotional process much easier. Katherine Miller made writing our wills, setting up a disabled persons trust and letter of wishes very easy and I would recommend Renaissance to other parents who need this service
James Wilkinson
Jan 10, 2022
Report
We first heard about Renaissance Legal when we attended a webinar about Wills and Trusts, organised by the charity SENSE , of which we are members, as we have a profoundly disabled son. We were looking for advice about making a will in the best interests of our family. Philip Warford was articulate, knowledgeable and professional. We have now set up an up to date Will and a Disabled Persons Trust for our son. We are confident that all our financial affairs are in in order to the best possible benefit of our family. This is thanks to the expertise of Katherine Miller and her team who took us through
Richard Moulson
Feb 15, 2021
Report
It was literally years spent finding someone to assist us in writing wills, creating a vulnerable persons trust and a letter of wishes without wanting a piece of the action. Renaissance Legal came recommended by Mencap and after meeting with Philip all seemed to fall into place. No pressure, just professional guidance. When cause came to call the office when I had made an error, the other staff went out of their way to help and then called to ensure all was OK. 5 star service in a very friendly manner. Thanks guys.
Hugo Summerson
Dec 29, 2020
Report
We needed to set up a disabled person's trust for our son, with associated Wills and Powers of Attorney. Philip Warford took us through the twists and turns of a long and difficult process. He knows his subject inside out and all the way through we felt that we were in safe hands. Nothing was too much trouble for him. He also liaised with our financial advisers in setting up a life policy to ensure that our wishes would not be totally derailed by the impact of inheritance tax. We have no hesitation in recommending Renaissance Legal.
Christine Ritchie
Jul 30, 2019
Report
Renaissance Legal made a very difficult process much easier. Their expertise and caring approach were invaluable and helped us negotiate difficult issues. Our daughters now face a more secure future. We would thoroughly recommended them to other families who have children with additional needs.
Jason Lundin
Jun 14, 2019
Report
Renaissance Legal helped us create a disabled persons trust and our wills. They explained it all very well, and took the time to go through documents more than once. We were treated very well and now have a much better understanding of how it all works as well as having set up the trust and our wills. We absolutely recommend using them. Thank you
