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Epping
Families in Epping, Theydon Bois, North Weald and the villages around them come to ELATCO for wills, lasting powers of attorney and inheritance tax planning. We’re a family firm in nearby Roydon, helping local people since 1999.
House prices in and around Epping are high, so an estate that feels quite ordinary — a family home, some savings and a pension — can still be large enough for inheritance tax to apply. Which allowances are available depends on your circumstances, who inherits and how your assets pass — and careful will planning can help avoid unintended results.
How your will leaves the home can decide whether the residence nil-rate band is available at all. Our inheritance tax planning page explains more.
For deaths from 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will count towards your estate for inheritance tax. For many Epping families with a home and a good pension, that will change the sums. Read our plain-English guide to pensions and inheritance tax from 2027.
Second marriages, children from earlier relationships, or a family member who would struggle to manage a lump sum — a will that leaves everything outright isn't always the right answer. We explain when a trust in your will can help, and when it isn't needed.
If you lost the ability to make decisions, nobody, not even your husband, wife or children, would automatically have the legal authority to manage your money or make health and welfare decisions for you. We prepare both types of lasting power of attorney and handle registration.
The business and agricultural relief rules changed in April 2026. If you own a business or farmland around Epping and your will was written before then, it may need reviewing. See our business estate planning page.
Our office is in nearby Roydon. Most clients meet us by online video meeting (Google Meet, Teams or Zoom), which lets grown-up children working in London join the same call. For local clients we can also offer home visits where they suit the work, depending on the size and complexity of the estate. The first conversation is free, and any work is at a fixed fee agreed in writing before we start.
Last reviewed: October 2026. General information on the law of England and Wales; rules can change.
From our experience
Every family is different, but these come up again and again.
Their home, savings and two private pensions together come to more than they’d realised. From April 2027, most unused pensions will count for inheritance tax.
What we do: We add everything up, including the pensions, and check whether the estate is near £2 million, where the extra allowance for the home starts to shrink. Then we look at how their wills leave the home and what can sensibly be done in their lifetime.
His will leaves his company shares to his wife. It was written before the business relief rules changed in April 2026.
What we do: We check how much of the business still qualifies for full relief under the new rules, and whether the shares are better left to his wife or straight to the children who work in the business. We work alongside his accountant where that helps.
They want their son and daughter as executors and attorneys, but the children can only get away at weekends.
What we do: We meet by online video meeting so the children can join from work, and explain to everyone what being an executor or attorney involves. The parents make the decisions; the children know what’s in place and where to find it.
These are typical examples, not real clients. Places and details are illustrative, and this isn’t advice for your own situation.
Who you'll speak to
Every Epping client deals with the same small family team, from the first call to signing.
Founded ELATCO in 1999. Wills, trusts and estate planning for families and business owners.
Mirror wills through to trusts and later-life planning, explained in plain English.
Often the first voice you'll hear. Keeps appointments and documents moving.
How it works
By online video meeting, or at home where suitable. Usually 30 to 40 minutes. No charge and no obligation.
We explain what we recommend and why, with a fixed fee in writing. Nothing is charged until you say yes.
We go through your documents with you line by line and make sure they're signed and witnessed properly.
Don't worry if you haven't got all of this. A rough idea is enough for the first conversation.
Epping
It depends on what you own, who you leave it to and how your will is written. Many Epping homeowners are closer to the thresholds than they think, especially once most pensions count from April 2027. On the free first call we can give you a clear picture of where you stand.
It can make sure the allowances you’re entitled to are actually used — for example, by leaving your home in a way that qualifies for the residence nil-rate band. A will can’t make every estate tax-free, and we’ll be honest about what is and isn’t possible.
Where it suits the work, yes. Whether a home visit is right depends on the size and complexity of the estate, and we’ll discuss it on the first call. Many clients prefer an online video meeting so family members elsewhere can join.
Your first conversation is free and without obligation. After it we confirm a fixed fee in writing before any work starts. How much does a will cost?
It depends on how you own it. If you own it as joint tenants, the home passes automatically to the survivor, whatever the will says. If you own it as tenants in common, each person’s share passes under their own will. We’ll check how yours is held and whether that suits your plans.
Yes. A lasting power of attorney can only be made while the person can still make their own decisions, so it’s best done early. We can meet your parents by online video meeting, with you joining if they’d like, or at home where suitable. We’ll always speak with your parents themselves, because the decision has to be theirs.
Free first meeting by online video meeting, or at home for local clients where it suits the work.