The estate has value, but not yet the cash.
Inheritance tax, estate costs, property works or beneficiary distributions may create a funding need before assets can be sold or the administration completed.
Read the probate finance guide → Solicitors · Legal professionals · Professional introducers
Property finance that respects the legal relationship.
Willow works alongside solicitors and legal professionals when a client’s property, estate or settlement depends on finance that falls outside a straightforward lending route.
You remain the client’s legal adviser. We assess the borrowing requirement, explain credible finance routes and manage the lender process within our professional remit.
An anonymous outline is enough for an initial conversation. Please do not send identification, bank statements, privileged material or sensitive documents by ordinary email or WhatsApp.
Since 2008
Established specialist brokerage
Directly authorised
FCA reference 588422
Independent
Advice shaped around the client
Whole-of-market
Mainstream, specialist and private banks
UK & international
Complex circumstances supported
Why legal professionals involve Willow
The funding question often appears inside a legal matter.
A client may not begin by asking for a finance adviser. They may need to pay inheritance tax, retain an inherited home, complete a property settlement, rescue a chain, meet an auction deadline or refinance an asset held through a trust or company.
Early coordination allows the legal work and lending timetable to progress together—while keeping each adviser clearly within their own professional remit.
The settlement depends on borrowing capacity.
Retaining the family home, buying out a former partner or raising a lump sum may require refinancing that reflects complex income, assets and agreed timescales.
Explore settlement liquidity options →Completion is at risk because the timing has changed.
A broken chain, delayed sale or late lender issue can put an otherwise viable purchase at risk. Short-term or alternative finance may preserve the transaction.
See finance routes for chain breaks →The legal pack changes the lending route.
Unregistered or multiple titles, short leases, restrictive terms, non-standard construction and required works can affect lender appetite and completion strategy.
Read the auction legal pack guide →The borrower and legal owner are not straightforward.
Trustees, beneficiaries, family investment companies and layered ownership can require specialist underwriting, enhanced due diligence and carefully coordinated documentation.
See what lenders require from trusts →Professional income does not always fit a standard application.
Bonus income, drawings, retained profits, a recent partnership promotion or earnings across jurisdictions may require lenders that understand legal careers.
Explore mortgages for lawyers → Know when to bring Willow in
A useful introduction starts with the obstacle.
Legal professionals do not need to diagnose the lending solution. These are simply signals that an early specialist finance conversation may protect the wider matter.
“The estate must fund inheritance tax or costs before assets can be realised.”
“One beneficiary wants to retain the inherited property or buy out the others.”
“The settlement depends on one party refinancing the family home.”
“A broken chain or delayed sale is putting completion at risk.”
“The auction deadline is fixed and the legal pack raises lender questions.”
“The property has an unregistered, split or otherwise complex title.”
“The borrower, beneficial owner and registered proprietor are not the same.”
“The property is held in a trust, company or layered ownership structure.”
“The asset needs works before it will qualify for a conventional mortgage.”
“An existing bridging or development facility is approaching expiry.”
“The client, income or assets span more than one jurisdiction.”
“A lender has declined or delayed after identifying a legal or property issue.”
If the objective, approximate amount, timing and principal obstacle are known, Willow can normally establish whether the matter deserves a fuller finance assessment.
Discuss the outline anonymously One introduction · Clear professional boundaries
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The matter stays coordinated from first outline to conclusion.
Share the situation
Start with the client’s objective, approximate amount, timing and principal obstacle. A client name is not required for an initial high-level discussion.
Establish credible routes
Willow considers likely lending models, information requirements, property constraints and potential timing issues before recommending a full assessment.
Introduce with permission
When the client wishes to proceed, make a consented introduction. Willow then handles the finance discussion and regulated advice within its remit.
Coordinate the transaction
Willow manages lender engagement, underwriting, valuation and progress. With consent, the legal team remains informed where its input is required.
Legal professional case desk
Is this worth an early finance conversation?
Choose the closest descriptions. This pathway does not indicate that finance is available and is not a lending decision or personal recommendation.
Legal-professional-relevant client outcomes
Real situations. Finance coordinated with the legal matter.
These Willow case studies show how early coordination can help where estates, beneficiary interests, trusts, title arrangements and fixed deadlines shape the finance requirement.
Probate bridging
Completing Before Inherited Assets Could Be Sold
Complication: Probate timing meant inherited assets were not yet available.
Outcome: Short-term finance supported the planned property completion.
Read the case study → Inherited propertyKeeping an Inherited Family Home
Complication: Probate, beneficiary interests and non-standard income narrowed the lender options.
Outcome: A mortgage enabled the client to retain the family property.
Read the case study → Trust propertyRaising Capital From a Trust-Held Asset
Complication: Trust ownership and rental stress testing required specialist lender assessment.
Outcome: Capital was raised to support a family property purchase.
Read the case study → Title strategyFinancing the Flat Below a Family Home
Complication: The purchase and future title merger created a non-standard property position.
Outcome: Specialist finance preserved a rare acquisition opportunity.
Read the case study → Why Willow
Good introductions depend on judgement, communication and trust.
Established since 2008, Willow is independent, directly authorised and whole-of-market, with access to mainstream lenders, specialist institutions and private banks for UK and international clients.
The case is positioned before it reaches lenders.
Willow clarifies the objective, evidence, legal context and principal risks before approaching the most appropriate part of the market.
From mainstream mortgages to private banks.
Residential, buy-to-let, probate, bridging, development, commercial, international and asset-backed requirements can be assessed through one specialist relationship.
The solicitor remains the legal adviser.
Willow handles finance and regulated advice while referring legal, tax and structural questions back to the client’s existing professional advisers.
Communication continues after the introduction.
The Willow adviser remains responsible for progressing the finance requirement and coordinating with the relevant professionals through to conclusion.
Professional arrangements
Clear responsibilities from the outset.
An initial case discussion does not require a formal partnership. For ongoing introductions, Willow can establish written terms covering responsibilities, consent, information sharing, communication and any applicable remuneration.
Any arrangement must remain consistent with the firm’s policies and professional duties. Applicable remuneration and required client disclosures are explained transparently before referrals begin.
Initial case conversations
- No obligation to establish a formal relationship.
- Anonymous scenarios can be discussed.
- No privileged or sensitive documents required.
- Willow explains whether a fuller assessment is worthwhile.
Ongoing introducer relationships
- Written introducer terms.
- Clear professional boundaries.
- Agreed referral process.
- Client-consent procedures.
- Progress reporting where authorised.
- Transparent treatment of any remuneration.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers before the first introduction.
Do I need to identify the client before discussing a case?
No. Willow can discuss an anonymised outline based on the objective, approximate amount, timing and principal obstacle. Client information should only be shared when the client has agreed to the introduction.
Who provides the mortgage or finance advice?
Willow provides mortgage and finance advice within its regulatory and professional remit. The solicitor or legal professional remains responsible for all legal advice and conduct of the legal matter.
Will Willow comment on legal documents or title?
Willow may explain the information a lender is likely to require, but does not provide legal advice or approve legal documents. Legal conclusions remain with the client’s appointed legal advisers and the lender’s conveyancer.
Can Willow work with executors, trustees and beneficiaries?
Yes, subject to the facts, authority to act and lender criteria. Probate and trust cases often require coordinated legal, tax, valuation and lending input before a suitable route can be confirmed.
Can finance help when completion or an estate deadline is fixed?
Potentially. Bridging or other specialist lending may help where a credible repayment strategy exists, but speed depends on valuation, legal readiness, evidence and underwriting. Early contact materially improves the ability to assess the timetable.
Is every form of finance arranged by Willow FCA regulated?
No. Some buy-to-let, commercial, bridging, probate and development finance is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Willow explains the relevant regulatory status for the proposed transaction.
Will the legal team receive progress updates?
Where the client has authorised this, Willow can provide appropriate progress updates and coordinate when lender requirements, documents, searches, undertakings or completion timing need legal input.
Are formal introducer terms required?
Not for an initial anonymous discussion. If a firm wishes to make introductions regularly or receive remuneration, appropriate written terms, internal approvals and disclosure arrangements should be established first.
Legal professional complex case desk
Bring us the obstacle, not a packaged application.
Tell us what the client needs to achieve, the approximate amount, the timing and why the matter may not fit a standard lending route. That is enough for the first conversation.
Your information is handled in line with Willow’s privacy policy. Please do not send privileged material or sensitive documents by ordinary email or WhatsApp. Lending is subject to status, valuation, lender criteria and full underwriting.
Call
Call a specialist adviser
+44 (0)20 7082 5175
Email
Email a high-level outline
No sensitive documents
WhatsApp
Message a non-sensitive outline
07824 634 483
Keep sensitive information secure. Do not send identification, bank statements, privileged material or account information by ordinary email or WhatsApp. Willow will explain how to share documents securely.