Private Client & Property Law

 

Expertise in Law – When You Need It

Burt Brill & Cardens advises individuals, families and local businesses across Brighton and Sussex on legal matters that often arise at important moments in life. We cover a wide range of legal expertise, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us whatever your legal query is.
Often, clients come to us when they are planning their affairs for the future, buying or selling a home, administering the estate of a relative, or taking on new business premises. Each situation brings legal questions that affect finances, property ownership and family arrangements.

Our role is to guide clients through these situations with clear, careful legal advice so that they understand their position and can make decisions with confidence.
Much of our work sits where private client law and property law meet. Matters involving wills, trusts, probate and property ownership frequently overlap in practice, and understanding those connections helps ensure that decisions made in one area do not unintentionally create complications in another.

Why These Areas Require Specialist Expertise

Many of the situations clients face involve more than one area of law. A property transaction may raise questions about inheritance planning. A bereavement may involve administering an estate that includes property. A disagreement between family members may involve both inheritance law and property ownership rights.

Part of our role is to help clients understand how these areas connect

For example, when someone dies without leaving a Will, their estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy. These statutory rules determine who inherits assets, including property, and they may not reflect what the person themselves would have intended. We help clients understand how these rules apply and what practical steps need to be taken when administering an estate.

Property ownership can also raise questions while the parties involved are still living. A home or investment property may be owned jointly by partners, family members or business associates. If circumstances change and disagreements arise about whether a property should be sold or how ownership shares should be recognised, we help clients understand the available legal options. In some cases, these matters fall to be considered by the court under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996

Inheritance disputes can also arise following a death where someone believes reasonable financial provision has not been made for them. Where appropriate, we advise on potential claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
By looking at these issues together rather than in isolation, we are able to provide advice that reflects the full legal picture affecting your life and of those involved.

A Boutique Practice Focused on Individuals

Seeking legal advice often happens during significant life events. Clients may be planning for their families, managing a property transaction, building a business, or dealing with the responsibilities that follow a bereavement. Here at Burt Brill & Cardens, clients work directly with a named legal who remains involved throughout the matter. This allows us to understand the circumstances behind each situation and provide advice that is tailored to the client rather than applying a standardised process.
Our approach is deliberately personal and considered. We take the time to explain the legal position clearly, answer questions as they arise and ensure that clients feel confident about the decisions they are making.

Our Core Practice Areas

Wills, Trusts & Probate

Planning ahead through a properly prepared Will allows individuals to decide how their assets should be distributed and who will be responsible for administering their estate.
We work with clients to prepare wills that reflect their intentions clearly and reduce the risk of disputes in the future. This often involves discussing how property and other assets should pass to family members and ensuring the appropriate legal structure is in place.
When a bereavement occurs, families often need support in understanding the practical steps involved in administering an estate. Where a Will exists, the executors apply for a Grant of Probate. If there is no Will, the estate is usually administered under Letters of Administration.
We guide executors and families through this process by identifying the assets of the estate, helping deal with liabilities and ensuring that the estate is distributed in accordance with the relevant legal rules.
Clients often have practical questions about the process, including how long probate typically takes and what responsibilities fall on those managing the estate. Our role is to explain these issues clearly and support clients throughout the administration of the estate.

Residential Property & Conveyancing

Buying or selling a home is often one of the most significant financial decisions people make. The legal process can feel unfamiliar, particularly for first-time buyers or those moving home after many years.
Our role is to guide clients through each stage of the transaction so that everything proceeds smoothly and securely.
This includes reviewing the legal title to the property, carrying out the necessary searches and ensuring that the buyer receives good and marketable title before exchange and completion. We also identify any legal issues affecting the property and explain what they mean for the client before commitments are made. This forms part of the work carried out by a conveyancing solicitor.

Where a property is being purchased jointly, we also advise clients on how the ownership should be structured. Property may be held as joint tenants or as tenants in common, and the choice can have important implications for inheritance and financial planning in the future.
By addressing these questions early in the process, we help ensure that the legal arrangements reflect the intentions of those involved.

Commercial Property

Property decisions can also play a central role in the development of a business.
Whether a client is taking on their first shop premises, expanding into a new restaurant space or purchasing a commercial unit as an investment, our role is to help them understand the legal commitments involved before agreements are signed.
Commercial leases often contain detailed provisions relating to rent reviews, service charges, repair obligations and break clauses. We work with clients to review these terms carefully so that they understand the long-term implications for their business.
Clients frequently come to us when they need advice on what to check before signing a commercial lease or when they want to understand the potential risks contained within commercial lease agreements. In some cases, clients also want guidance on whether leasing premises or purchasing property is the better long-term option.

We regularly advise clients in situations such as:

• Someone leasing a shop for their business

• A restaurant owner taking a commercial lease

• A small company renting office space

• A local business purchasing a small commercial unit

Disputed Wills & Property Ownership Disputes

While many matters can be resolved through careful planning, disputes sometimes arise where expectations differ or ownership arrangements are unclear.
Inheritance disputes may occur where beneficiaries disagree about the meaning of a Will or believe they should have received financial provision from an estate. Where appropriate, we advise clients on potential claims under the Inheritance Act 1975 and help them understand the options available.
Property disputes can also arise where individuals have contributed financially to a property but are not recorded as legal owners. In certain situations the law may recognise a beneficial interest through a constructive trust.
Where disagreements develop between co-owners about whether a property should be sold or how ownership shares should be recognised, we help clients assess the legal position and explore practical ways of resolving the matter. In some cases this may involve legal proceedings.

Led by Legal Expertise

Burt Brill & Cardens has built a strong reputation in private client and property law within the Brighton and Sussex legal community.
Our firm maintains professional connections with organisations such as STEP, reflecting a continued commitment to high professional standards in private client practice.

The firm’s standing within the legal community is also reflected in the appointment of David Edwards as Under-Sheriff of East Sussex, a historic legal office that supports the High Court and the office of the High Sheriff within the county. The role of Under Sheriff is typically held by an experienced solicitor and reflects the trust placed in that individual by the legal profession. Appointments of this nature recognise both professional expertise and longstanding involvement within the legal system.

Contact Us if You Need an Expert Solicitor

If you require any legal advice or specifically advice on Wills, Probate, Conveyancing, Property Ownership or Inheritance Disputes, Burt Brill & Cardens can provide clear and practical legal guidance.
Speaking with one of our experienced solicitors or legal experts  at an early stage often helps clarify the legal position and allows informed decisions to be made with confidence.

For further information or to arrange a consultation, please contact us.