Waddington & Son

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Trusted Legal Services in Burnley, Blackburn & Preston

Waddington & Son is a trusted and well-established law firm serving clients in Burnley, Blackburn, and Preston. Founded in 1894, we have built a reputation for delivering personalized legal advice rooted in integrity and professionalism. Our team of experienced solicitors specialises in family law, criminal defence, and Court of Protection matters, providing clear, accessible guidance tailored to individual client needs. In 2023, we strengthened our expertise by merging with JWR Solicitors of Preston, combining over 150 years of collective experience to better serve our communities.

We prioritise client relationships, ensuring every case is handled with empathy and a commitment to achieving practical solutions. Our legal aid services support those requiring assistance in family and criminal proceedings, while our Court of Protection team acts as professional deputies for vulnerable clients. With offices across Lancashire, we offer accessible, high-quality legal representation, maintaining a strong focus on local needs while upholding national standards of excellence.

Services

Family Matters Criminal Defence Court of Protection Wills & Probate Bereavement Services Adoption Cases Domestic Abuse Care Proceedings

Highlights and features

We have over 130 years of combined experience in family and criminal law.
Our team includes Law Society Children's Panel members and Court of Protection deputies.
We provide Legal Aid-approved services for eligible clients.
Our solicitors regularly represent clients in High Court and Court of Appeal cases.
We merged with Preston's JWR Solicitors to enhance regional legal expertise.

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Services

Family Matters

Our family law team handles divorce, child custody, and domestic abuse cases with sensitivity and expertise. We represent parents and children in care proceedings, prioritising child welfare while protecting parental rights. With Law Society accreditation, we provide clear guidance through complex legal processes.

Criminal Defence

We defend clients in magistrates' and crown courts across Lancashire, specialising in serious criminal cases. Our solicitors have higher court advocacy rights and extensive experience in youth justice and vulnerable client representation, ensuring robust legal protection.

Court of Protection

We manage financial and welfare decisions for individuals lacking mental capacity as Court of Protection deputies. Our team handles deputyship applications, annual reporting, and complex estate management, maintaining strict compliance with legal requirements.

Wills & Probate

Our private client team assists with will creation, lasting powers of attorney, and probate administration. We help families navigate inheritance matters and international notarial services, ensuring legal documents meet current regulations.

Bereavement Services

We provide compassionate legal assistance following family loss, including probate applications and estate administration. Our team supports clients through the emotional and legal challenges of managing a loved one's affairs.

People

Colin Warner

Director, Family Solicitor

Qualified in 1989, Colin specialises in family law and Court of Protection cases. He has represented children in complex care proceedings since 2008 and leads our Burnley office team.

Trish Hassell

Director, Family Solicitor

With 20+ years' experience, Trish became our first female director in 2019. She focuses on local authority care cases and manages the Blackburn office, bringing expertise in complex child protection matters.

Charlotte Fitzpatrick

Head of Family Department

Charlotte leads our family law team, specialising in local authority proceedings. A Law Society accredited specialist since 2012, she joined the board of directors in 2024.

Nicola Mawson

Head of Private Client

Nicola specialises in Court of Protection deputyship matters, managing high net worth cases. She joined us in 2021, bringing extensive experience in mental capacity law.

Rachel Dixon

Practice Manager

Rachel has managed daily operations since 2023, overseeing our team across three offices. With 25 years' service, she ensures smooth practice management and client service coordination.

Questions

What areas of law does Waddington & Son specialise in?

We specialise in family law, criminal defence, Court of Protection matters, and wills & probate services across Lancashire.

Can you assist with emergency legal matters?

Yes, we offer 24/7 support for urgent cases including police station representation and child protection emergencies.

Do you provide Legal Aid services?

We offer Legal Aid-approved representation for eligible clients in family and criminal law proceedings.

What is your experience with Court of Protection cases?

We act as professional deputies for vulnerable clients and have specialist solicitors managing deputyship appointments since 2008.

Reviews (7)

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Bradley

Jun 09, 2024 Report

STAY WELL AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY.

THREATENING AND RUDE AND OBNOXIOUS VILE PPL.

SPREAD THE WORD.

YES THERE THAT BAD.

Leon Bradley

May 28, 2024 Report

The worst solicitors on earth. They threaten and antagonise ppl. They had my elderly mother in tears. No communication.

BE WARNED PPL. STAY WELL AWAY .

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES USE THEM

Mike Parkinson

Oct 04, 2023 Report

I can whole hearted recommend Waddingtons for all legal matters. In particular Beth Cowel. Beth's friendly manner and valuable knowledge assisted me greatly writing my Will. It's quite daunting compiling a Will especially when it's your first, but fear not. Beth guided me professionally and gave me confidence in my wishes. Don't put off making a Will, book to see her ASAP.

Jeffrey Green

Oct 05, 2021 Report

Do not use these solicitors. They have been dealing with my mother's will since she passed away last year and seem no closer to completing this almost 11 months later. Phone calls aren't returned and we were never even notified when our solicitor left the company! We have been advised by another solicitor to make a complaint to the financial ombudsman if there is no progress after 12 months.

Paulo Furlonge

Sep 22, 2021 Report

I have been waiting over 2 years for the solicitor to finalize my mother's Estate. Elisabeth Borthwick was my mother. The solicitor is very unprofessional and rude. Who do I complain to? paulofurlonge @hotmail.com l am Paul A Williams (son) His name is Gary Hall.

Matthew Trubow

Mar 27, 2021 Report

Probably the rudest and most money focused solicitor ever. Withheld a Will for the sake of trying to get us to pay for them to administer the probate. Then, we go up to get the Will and notice that there are two errors in it from them originally writing it. We were told "it pays to review it". isn't that what the solicitor is for? Not recommended.

Tim Gledhill

Aug 04, 2020 Report

Critical: Professionalism, Responsiveness Rude, incompetent, bias, no intention of what is best for the child involved. Lie and purposely deceive the court for their own benefit. Beware if you come up against Colin Warner or anyone from his firm.