Malcolm Muir has established himself as a valuable and committed member of the Private Client team having gained a wealth of experience and expertise, over a period of twenty years in both City and provincial firms. Malcolm can help individuals navigate the complexities of private client matters including Wills, Powers of Attorney and dealing with Probate, Inheritance Tax and the Court of Protection.
Malcolm’s particular focus within the Private Client team is on building longstanding personal relationships and, in the process, achieving the estate planning objectives of clients and their families.
He is able to effectively combine his knowledge of the law with a natural attentive and courteous manner, putting clients at ease and guiding them through the daunting minefield of legal processes, often at the most troubling and traumatic times in their lives.
Malcolm is a fully Accredited Member of Solicitors for the Elderly, a national, independent organisation of solicitors, barristers, and chartered legal executives who provide specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers.
Areas of expertise
One of the most emotional and stressful times can be after losing a loved one. The probate process can be complex and time consuming, especially if you have not been through it before. Malcolm can be on hand to help and guide clients through estate administration, providing as much help and support as may be required.
Malcolm has experience of dealing with cases that may be contentious and, along with his colleagues in our Litigation Department, can progress these cases and protect our client’s interests.
Malcolm will do his utmost to help you whatever your circumstance.
A Power of Attorney is used to transfer the legal authority for decision making about an individual and their affairs to another person if they become unable to do so for themselves.
There are a number of different types of Power of Attorney. One option is an Ordinary Power of Attorney, which gives someone else the power to handle your financial affairs for you while you are able to oversee them. The other is to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to give someone the authority to make decisions on your behalf should you lose the ability to do so. This person is known as an attorney, while the person who makes the LPA is called the donor.
Malcolm is highly experienced in dealing with matters relating to power of attorney and can help you with all aspects of it. He also deals with Deputy Applications to the Court of Protection.
Everyone wants to make sure that their family and loved ones will be cared for after they’ve gone. Malcolm can help you maximise the amount you leave to your family and loved ones by advising you on the most tax efficient options available to you.
Malcolm is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly and is therefore recognised as a specialist in this area of law. He can advise on the best structure to protect against inheritance tax while minimising the risk of an inheritance dispute.
A deed of variation can be used by beneficiaries to change entitlements under a will or intestacy for tax purposes within two years of the date of death. It can also be helpful to make sense of the current inheritance tax regime where couples now have a transferable nil rate band.
Malcolm regularly advises on deeds of variation, his experience will be able to assist you with the preparation of a document which could save both tax and family unrest in the future.
A Deputy is a person appointed by the Court of Protection to manage the personal welfare or the property and affairs of another person, who lacks the mental capacity to manage them themselves.
Malcolm has a wealth of experience in dealing with the practices of the Court of Protection and the Office of the Public Guardian. He can help with preparing applications on behalf of prospective Deputies, liaising with the Court of Protection regarding applications, assisting deputies in managing their deputyships and in making further applications to the Court when required.
For help or advice please get in touch:
Click here to email or call +44 (0)20 8909 0400.