Formed in 1761, Fosters Solicitors is one of the oldest law firms in England. From that rich heritage the company has grown into a modern, vibrant law firm with a culture and values that puts clients, colleagues and partners at the centre of everything they do.
Paige Gouldthorpe, Deputy Head & Court of Protection Specialist, Wills, Trusts & Probate Department and Head of Lowestoft manages a team of 12 working on a variety of cases including Court of Protection, Powers of Attorney and estate administration. Paige explains: “At Fosters we are all about putting our clients first and improving their journey, many of whom are vulnerable individuals. Primarily we are here to help and so we are all genuinely approachable and aim to take the pain away from difficult situations.
“That’s one of the reasons I like working with Estatesearch. Our values align. Estatesearch’s team really care, particularly about vulnerable people and their personal approach means we can always work together to achieve the best outcome for our clients.
For around three years, we have used a variety of Estatesearch’s services including the Financial Profile Search which identifies all assets and liabilities within an estate, in addition to Valuation of Shares, Unoccupied Home Insurance, Will Searches and placement of Section 27 Notices. We also use Living Asset Searches for Court of Protection cases too.
Where I have a Court of Protection case, Estatesearch can help me gain a full picture of the vulnerable individual’s financial position without the need to worry them. I’m sometimes working with clients with complex mental health issues such as bipolar disorder or Schizophrenia and so being able to assess and administer the estate without hassling or triggering them means we can keep their wellbeing in mind.
From my team’s point of view, being able to order searches all in one place, through Estatesearch’s secure portal saves us time. The age of my team members ranges from 21- 60 and everyone finds the portal extremely easy to use. Everything is on one page and it’s kind to the eye. Previously, we used other providers but when you find something that works, you tend to stick with it.
It always amazes me what is uncovered in an Asset and Liability search. If we are administering an estate we usually have a good idea about what it contains but for Court of Protection cases, there can be surprises. We can be working with high-net-worth individuals or families or businesspeople so being able to make discreet enquiries without concerning them at what is already at what is a difficult time, is helpful and appreciated.
One unusual case found unknown assets in a similar name to the deceased. The property was the same and so was the surname but the first name had changed slightly. It came to light that the deceased had changed gender and we were then able to address this with the family avoiding any embarrassment. We are working with a sensitive area of the law where we find out everything about a client and it is important that we can establish the facts and respect privacy at the same time. Estatesearch’s services enable us to find out everything we need to know and no more. It means we can offer a better and more sensitive service to our clients.
I always thank the Estatesearch team for making my job just that little bit easier. Their client service is second to none and we highly recommend Estatesearch.”
For further information about Fosters Solicitors please see: Contact – Fosters Solicitors
For further information about Estatesearch please see: www.estatesearch.co.uk
This article was submitted to be published by Estatesearch as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Wills and Probate. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Wills and Probate.
