MELISSA Butler has joined AWB Charlesworth Solicitors as paralegal in the wills, trusts and probate department.

AWB Charlesworth’s work in this area is growing, and now has a team of 11, including five solicitors and a specialist probate and trusts accountant. In turn, the department works closely with others in the firm - residential property, commercial property, litigation and commercial and corporate.

Wills, trusts and probate, otherwise known as the private client department is split across three offices serving people in Skipton, Keighley, Bradford, and the wider area of the Aire Valley and the Yorkshire Dales.

Melissa has almost 10 years experience in estate administration, the preparation of wills and lasting powers of attorney, and in dealing with applications to the Court of Protection.

Jenny Barron, Head of Private Client said: “ Our wills and probate business is going from strength to strength and we have an urgent need to expand our team to cover the large quantity of work and maintain our excellent standards of service. Melissa’s extensive experience is a great advantage to us as we increasingly take on complex inheritance work and help families with multiple assets.”

Melissa said she was delighted to join the team. "They’re a long-established firm with a great reputation. They’re progressive in their approach to the law, and yet still have the strong values of a family firm," she said.