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Honey Legal and Portcullis formalise probate handover after year-long trial
June 11: Honey Legal and Portcullis have formalised a long-term strategic partnership following a year-long trial designed to test how probate handovers can be managed in a way that preserves trusted client relationships while strengthening continuity, communication and succession planning.
The agreement gives Portcullis clients a structured future, with continuity of care, long-term protection for families and a clear succession plan for the business built by founder Trevor Worth over almost four decades.
During the trial, Portcullis remained the first point of contact for families, introducing Honey Legal’s specialist probate team at the appropriate stage. Honey Legal’s detailed probate process helped ensure files were transferred quickly, communication remained clear and consistent, and families felt reassured and supported throughout. The firms said the collaboration showed how a well-managed handover can protect trusted client relationships, strengthen the probate experience, and form part of a more responsible long-term approach to succession planning.
The trial involved mapping and testing the client journey from the moment of death through to the completion of estate administration, with both firms focusing on how a local, relationship-led practice and a national probate team could work together in practice. Rather than treating the handover as a simple administrative transfer, the emphasis was on whether the process felt seamless for families and whether communication stayed consistent at every stage.
Under the new arrangement, Honey Legal will provide long-term probate support and estate administration for Portcullis clients, while Trevor Worth continues as Managing Director and Founder of Portcullis, remaining active in wills, trusts and estate planning. The model is intended to protect client continuity, maintain the personal relationships Portcullis has built over almost four decades, and put a clearer succession framework in place for the future.
The move comes as Honey Legal expects to more than double its probate team over the next 12 months, with further investment planned in specialist roles, systems and client support.
For both firms, the model is intended to address a common challenge in private client work: how to plan for continuity without disrupting the confidence families place in a long-standing adviser. In probate, where executors and families often need clarity, practical guidance and steady communication, a well-managed process can make a significant difference to the experience.
Al Gardiner, CEO of Honey Legal, said:
“This partnership is about protecting clients for the long term and making sure families always feel supported and well looked after. Trevor has spent almost 40 years building an exceptional reputation based on trust, relationships, and genuinely caring for people.
What we have created together is a proper long-term structure that gives clients certainty for the future. The trial period proved that our teams work incredibly well together and that families receive an excellent experience during probate, which is when support matters most. Trevor is not retiring any time soon, and we are delighted he will continue doing what he does best for many years ahead. But when the time eventually comes to hand over the mantle, Honey Legal will already be there to continue supporting those families with the same care and professionalism.”
Trevor Worth, Managing Director and Founder of Portcullis, said:
“This partnership is entirely about doing the right thing for our clients and ensuring they remain protected long into the future.
I still enjoy what I do enormously and have no immediate plans to retire, but after nearly 40 years in the profession it was important for me to create a proper long-term plan for the families who have trusted us over the years. The trial period gave me enormous confidence because I could see first-hand the quality of care and support clients were receiving through Honey Legal’s probate team. Families were being looked after properly, communication was excellent, and the whole process felt smooth.
Most relationships within our sector are informal arrangements without real long-term certainty behind them. We wanted to break that mould by creating something formal, transparent, and genuinely built around client continuity and future protection.”
Both firms believe the partnership offers a more structured approach to succession planning in the estate planning profession, combining local client relationships with national probate capability. The arrangement follows a period in which the two teams worked closely together to understand how best to support families at each stage of probate, from the first conversation after a death to the final distribution of the estate.
About Honey Legal
Honey Legal is one of the most trusted estate planning firms in the UK according to Trustpilot reviews. The firm helps individuals and families with wills, lasting powers of attorney, trusts, probate, and succession planning, focusing on clear, jargon-free advice and a smoother experience during emotionally difficult times. By combining modern systems with a personal advisory approach, Honey Legal aims to set a higher standard for service in the estate-planning and probate sector.
About Portcullis
Portcullis is an award-winning estate planning firm that has been providing wills, trusts and succession planning advice for almost 40 years. Based in the South West, it is a well-established, independent brand with a strong reputation for client care, personal service, and community-focused relationships. Portcullis prides itself on its long-term partnerships with clients and its consistent recognition within the sector for quality and professionalism.
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