Caroline Roche

I am a Director of Wills and Probate at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. I also specialise in clinical negligence claims and motoring offences.

I deal with all aspects of wills and probate including, but not limited to, drafting wills to include a wide range of complicated situations; advising in relation to any inheritance tax which may be due from the estate; gathering in the estate of a loved one when they have passed away, dealing with the tax situation in both taxable and non-taxable estates, and handling the affairs of a loved one who has died without making a will. In addition to the above, I also specialise in handling Powers of Attorney matters relating to both health and welfare and finance and property.

I have a proven track record in successfully dealing with a variety of contentious probate claims, this includes claims made under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, claims for equitable relief under proprietary estoppel, constructive trusts, and resulting trusts, and TOLATA claims. My handling of contentious probate matters also extends to will disputes, trust disputes, disputes surrounding the value of assets, and dealing with matters that arise through difficult executors.

I carry out work for the employment department at Duncan Lewis, with a particular focus on settlement (compromise) agreements. Additionally, I have extensive experience in dealing with both non-litigated and litigated clinical negligence claims as well as considerable experience in representing clients who have been accused of committing motoring offences.

I am a member of the Society of Trusts and Equity Practitioners and am currently working towards my full qualification. I am also a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).

I am fluent in French, Spanish and Italian and have been able throughout my legal career to facilitate the successful communication between my firm and Clients from the above communities.

• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC)
• LLB Honours – Middlesex University
• BA Honours in French and Spanish – Birkbeck University of London

• Director at Duncan Lewis Solicitors: 2017 - present
• Goldens Solicitors: 2012 - 2017
• Admitted as a Solicitor: 2012

• "Caroline, thank you for all of your help at such a hard time, I truly appreciate it and would highly recommend you!" - Client, 2019


• "Thank you Caroline for your excellent help and advice leading to speedy and very satisfactory conclusion." - Client, 2019


• "I appreciate the way you were thorough in dealing with my case. I am happy with your services and will use you in the future. Thank you very much." - Client, 2019


• "We are most grateful to Caroline for helping us with our Wills, where it seems to me that she has gone beyond the call of duty. Very many thanks" - Client, Mr P - 2018


• "...Caroline proved very skilled, sympathetic and down to earth and right away dealt with my wife's Will, helping her to organize her wishes and put them down in unequivocal terms.Caroline helped me to review and streamline my own Will, by organizing it appropriately and pruning it of the unnecessary and possibly misleading statements. The entire process was quick, and quite revealing of how many intricacies one should be wary of and very friendly and sympathetic...we have both been very happy with Duncan Lewis and Caroline Roche's fast, hassle-free service and we are very grateful to her." - Client, Mr and Mrs S - 2018


• "Caroline has supported the Will Aid campaign since 2013 and she has raised a significant amount of donations for nine partner charities, donations which have been used to change the lives of those in need for the better, both here in the UK and around the world. I also understand that she has done so as the only participating Solicitor from her firm making her efforts even more impressive. The time and energy she has given to Will Aid has been extremely appreciated." - Frank De Vena, Campaign Director of Will Aid

• Recommended Lawyer - The Legal 500, (2024 - 2021)

• Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS)
• Society of Trusts and Equity Practitioners
• Dementia Friends

• Films
• Languages
• Travelling

• Navigating Probate Disputes: Key Considerations when Challenging a Will (1 March 2024)
• The Future of Inheritance Tax: Government Plans & Smart Strategies (1 November 2023)
• Overcoming Challenges in Getting a Will Declared Invalid in Law (6 October 2023)
• Removing an Executor from a Will (9 June 2023)
• Your Will and the Impact Marriage or Divorce has on it (19 May 2023)
• Dismissing Inheritance Claims from Adult Dependants can be Costly (9 February 2023)
• Why is King Charles exempt from inheritance tax and would the Queen want him to pay it? (27 October 2022)
• Duncan Lewis Wills and Probate Team in the Running for Top Honour (27 September 2022)
• Landmark decision means claimants can now recover their ‘Success Fee’ (20 October 2021)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors raise over £12,000 for charities during Free Wills Month 2020 (1 December 2020)
• Wills and Probate team raises vital funds for charity (25 September 2020)
• Free Wills Month - Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ wills and probate department offering free will drafting services (9 March 2020)
• Pro Bono Week 2019: Duncan Lewis Solicitors initiatives (4 November 2019)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Wills and Probate department raise significant funds for charities during Free Wills Month (1 November 2019)
• Caroline Roche speaks to Hayes FM about the work Duncan Lewis carried out for Will Aid (Hayes FM) (1 November 2019)
• Fraudulent behaviour and suspecting the validity of a will (18 September 2019)
• Stepsisters’ inheritance battle over which parent died first (14 August 2019)
• The issues with online and DIY will services (6 August 2019)
• Duncan Lewis celebrates success in Will Aid’s fundraising campaign (18 July 2019)
• Who died first? Stepsisters’ inheritance battle invokes rarely-used 94 year old law (18 July 2019)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors sponsoring St Luke’s Hospice networking event (10 June 2019)
• Duncan Lewis offering free Wills drafting during Free Wills Month (1 March 2019)
• Probate fees set for a dramatic rise (19 February 2019)
• Things commonly forgotten about when drafting a Will (15 February 2019)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Wills and Probate department are participating in Cancer Research’s Free Will service (11 January 2019)
• Contesting a Will: Farmer’s son who ‘hates cows’ stripped of his inheritance (3 December 2018)
• Changing a will – is it really necessary? (9 November 2018)
• Executor made personally liable for £340,000 tax bill (Asian Voice) (29 October 2018)
• Personal Representatives for Testators be warned: Executor made personally liable for £340,000 tax bill (15 October 2018)
• Adults without a will: seek specialist advice (Asian Voice) (21 August 2018)
• Survey prompts warning for adults without a will (8 August 2018)
• Legal 500 Recommended National Law Firm Duncan Lewis Solicitors is pleased to announce its involvement in two excellent charitable schemes: Will Aid and the Amnesty International Will Scheme (28 November 2017)
• Legal 500 Recommended National Law Firm Duncan Lewis Hires New Wills and Probate Director Caroline Roche (10 November 2017)