Sparlings Solicitors logo

Sparlings Solicitors

4.7 | 101 Reviews 101 Reviews | Wills, Trusts & Probate
315 Total Company Reviews info icon Wills, Trusts & Probate | info icon 315 Total Company Reviews Wills, Trusts & Probate | info icon 315 Total Company Reviews

13 High Street, Manningtree, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 1AQ

Accepting new clients

13 High Street, Manningtree, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 1AQ

Regulated by:

The Solicitors Regulation Authority

Regulator ID: 192678

Visit website
Sparlings Solicitors |

ReviewSolicitors Suitability Check

See availability

Expertise

Costs


Please enter a search query before checking suitability.
Our AI couldn’t identify the legal issue in that search 🤔 Try describing the legal problem in a different way.

Sparlings Solicitors Review Scores & Client Satisfaction Overview

4.7
Excellent
92%
Value for
Money
95%+
Success
Rate
95%+
Would
Recommend
Communication 4.7/5
Initial Impressions 4.6/5
Approachability 4.8/5
Documentation Accuracy 4.8/5
Legal Knowledge 4.7/5
Value for money 4.6/5

Accreditations

Sparlings Solicitors are accredited by

Family Law accreditation awarded to Sparlings Solicitors
The Law Society accreditation awarded to Sparlings Solicitors
Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation awarded to Sparlings Solicitors
Trading names:
Sparlings Solicitors

Description

Our friendly, fully-qualified solicitors can offer professional legal advice to support you, we will help you to obtain the best possible outcome at all times. We offer in-person legal advice across Essex, to ensure you are familiar with us and our services. We care deeply about how we can aid you in any legal interaction. A service that's here for you for life. We have local conferences that provide our legal services in Colchester, Manningtree and Frinton branches, Essex.

Rankings by area of expertise

The rankings below show the areas of expertise that Sparlings Solicitors offers to clients. You can see how good the service offered is in comparison to all other law firms nationally / locally.

Sparlings Solicitors Review Scores & Client Satisfaction Overview

4.8
Excellent
94%
Value for
Money
11% above
national average
95%+
Success
Rate
15% above
national average
95%+
Would
Recommend
16% above
national average
Communication 4.8/5
Initial Impressions 4.7/5
Approachability 4.8/5
Documentation Accuracy 4.8/5
Legal Knowledge 4.8/5
Value for money 4.7/5

Accreditations

Sparlings Solicitors are accredited by

Family Law accreditation awarded to Sparlings Solicitors
The Law Society accreditation awarded to Sparlings Solicitors
Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation awarded to Sparlings Solicitors
Trading names:
Sparlings Solicitors

Description

Our friendly, fully-qualified solicitors can offer professional legal advice to support you, we will help you to obtain the best possible outcome at all times. We offer in-person legal advice across Essex, to ensure you are familiar with us and our services. We care deeply about how we can aid you in any legal interaction. A service that's here for you for life. We have local conferences that provide our legal services in Colchester, Manningtree and Frinton branches, Essex.

Rankings by area of expertise

The rankings below show the areas of expertise that Sparlings Solicitors offers to clients. You can see how good the service offered is in comparison to all other law firms nationally / locally.

Contact & Locations - Sparlings Solicitors

Opening hours

Monday 09:00–17:15
Tuesday 09:00–17:15
Wednesday 09:00–17:15
Thursday 09:00–17:15
Friday 09:00–17:15
Saturday (Closed)
Sunday (Closed)

13 High Street, Manningtree, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 1AQ

Reviews

4.7 /5 101 Reviews
Filter your results
Star rating
Review Source

Rating

Review Source

Clients say

What clients say about Sparlings Solicitors

The firm specialises in family law, conveyancing, property sales, probate and settlement agreements, showing strong technical expertise and reliable case management. Clients praise clear, prompt communication, efficient handling of complex transactions, and practical, straightforward advice. Valued soft skills include compassion, patience, professionalism, responsiveness and calm reassurance during stressful or emotional matters; staff are described as supportive, approachable and willing to go above and beyond to achieve positive outcomes.

kind and compassionate
professional guidance
supportive service
responsive team
clear communication
efficient process
knowledgeable staff
friendly manner
above and beyond
straightforward dealings

ReviewSolicitors Review List

Profile image of lynn clark

lynn clark

Wills, Trusts & Probate

The service is unacceptable

Sparlings made a mistake on a simple will and keep after 5 years and a court case of which we won still not paying out the due money. Do not trust this company they seem to not care or abide by the court ruling’s. Leaving us devastated and still not allowing us to put our relatives estate to rest !

Reply by profile image of James Alexander Gomm

James Alexander Gomm

Dear Lynn, We are very sorry to hear about your experience. We have read your comments and appreciate the opportunity to respond. We must respectfully clarify that this matter does not relate to a simple Will- it concerns the administration of a complex estate involving two interlinked estates, in which legal proceedings have taken place. We are currently reviewing the position and will revert to you once the fee-earner assigned to this matter has had the opportunity to fully assess the case. This follows the departure of Laura Gajewska from the firm, and it was not possible for a full response to be provided immediately yesterday, as requested. We do not accept the characterisation presented in this review, which appears to have arisen due to the inability to provide an instant update on what is a complex and ongoing matter. We remain committed to progressing this case appropriately and will be in contact with you shortly but the fee-earner assigned to this case does need sufficient time to be able to review the case(s).

0
Collected on: ReviewSolicitor collection source logo
Profile image of David Bridge

David Bridge

Wills, Trusts & Probate

The worst possible experience

Without doubt the worst professional services firm I have ever encountered. They estimated that administering my relative’s estate would take 9-12 months. Now, four and a half year’s later, they are holding my family’s money and paying almost no interest on it, while refusing to answer my emails or return my calls. Along the way they have got the law wrong (admitted), neglected to claim the nil rate band for inheritance tax, provided an incorrect IHT reference number so the payment could not be traced by HMRC, taken money from our client account for a bill which they hadn’t showed us (and which proved to be grossly inflated), failed to request the deceased’s money from banks for over two years and consistently failed to respond when asked for updates. There are clear breaches of the SRA rules here: taking money before invoices are sent to the client, holding money in client account without good reason, communicating with government agencies contrary to the client’s interests and without their knowledge, failing to respond to a complaint for over 8 months. This firm should not be in business. The ombudsman process is glacial, doubtless because Sparlings are deliberately dragging it out as much as they can. If this doesn’t sound like the sort of experience you are looking for, avoid Sparlings like the plague.

Solicitors tagged in
this review

0
Collected on: ReviewSolicitor collection source logo
Profile image of Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan

Verified
Housing & Property

Sale of property for deceased persons estate

Very helpful, went above and beyond on a complex sale!!

Solicitors tagged in
this review

from Sparlings Solicitors

Dear Chris, Thank you for your feedback. We are delighted to hear that you found the support very helpful and that the team went above and beyond on your complex sale. Your comments are greatly appreciated.

0
Collected on: ReviewSolicitor collection source logo
Profile image of Anonymous

Anonymous

Verified

Help with obtaining Documents

A thank you to Mr James Gomm and his assistant Sian Linsell who managed to obtain the necessary papers and Will I required for Probate when a large , brash uncaring remote working company had taken over a smaller firm of solicitors and then proceeded to ignore me and all that smaller firms previous clients requests for necessary paperwork and documents with no responses or proper behaviour from them causing considerable worry and delay to me and I understand, many others too. Mr James Gomm was reliable and tenacious in obtaining those vital documents for me from the company in question and in case they should not comply, Mr Gomm had already considered a' plan B' Sian Linsell, assistant to James Gomm, was very diligent, kind and always answered my emails and was thorough. In my opinion the costs were fair and transparent and I recommend the services of both James and Sian without hesitation.

Solicitors tagged in
this review

Sparlings Solicitors

Thank you for your review. We’re pleased to hear that James and Sian provided reliable, diligent, and supportive assistance in obtaining the necessary documents for your Probate, keeping you informed and reassured throughout the process. Kind regards, Sparlings Solicitors

0
Collected on: ReviewSolicitor collection source logo
Profile image of Darron

Darron

Review of Wills

We needed to review our Wills of which were not straightforward. Sparlings understood our needs and created drafts without any issues having full understanding our requirements.

0
Collected on: ReviewSolicitor collection source logo

Other Reviews

Profile image of Erica

Erica

Erica

Very helpful,very professional. They have been excellent helping me on the recent death of my husband

Sparlings Solicitors

Thank you for your kind words, Erica. We’re truly sorry for your loss and are glad we could assist you during such a difficult time.

0
Collected on: Google collection source logo
Profile image of Parish

Parish

Parish

We recently updated our wills and we had excellent personable service. Can thoroughly recommend Sparlings. They dealt with power of attorney for my parents and were incredibly helpful

A representative from Sparlings Solicitors responded to this review

Thank you so much for your 5 star review and which is very much appreciated by us all.

0
Collected on: Google collection source logo
Profile image of Matthew

Matthew

Matthew

Highly recommended - swift , reassuring and tenacious. Sparlings have helped me with wills, probate, estates, probate and conveyancing. In particular, I recommend the firm's partners Michelle Goldman and Katrina Sharman. Both excellent.

A representative from Sparlings Solicitors responded to this review

Thank you so much Matthew for your kind review and which is very much appreciated.

0
Collected on: Google collection source logo
Profile image of Dean

Dean

Dean

Professional service

A representative from Sparlings Solicitors responded to this review

Thank you so much for your positive review- and which is very much appreciated.

0
Collected on: Google collection source logo
Profile image of Dean Ludford

Dean Ludford

Dean

Professional service

Thank you Dean for your positive 5 star review and which is very much appreciated.

0
Collected on: Google collection source logo

Reviews

4.8 /5 315 Reviews
Filter your results
Star rating
Review Source

Rating

Review Source

Clients say

What clients say about Sparlings Solicitors

The firm specialises in family law, conveyancing, property sales, probate and settlement agreements, showing strong technical expertise and reliable case management. Clients praise clear, prompt communication, efficient handling of complex transactions, and practical, straightforward advice. Valued soft skills include compassion, patience, professionalism, responsiveness and calm reassurance during stressful or emotional matters; staff are described as supportive, approachable and willing to go above and beyond to achieve positive outcomes.

kind and compassionate
professional guidance
supportive service
responsive team
clear communication
efficient process
knowledgeable staff
friendly manner
above and beyond
straightforward dealings

ReviewSolicitors Review List

Profile image of Joanne

Joanne

Family Law- Divorce

I was guided through the process with extreme kindness, compassion and professionalism by my Solicitor Malina. I felt very supported during a very distressing and difficult time.

0
Collected on: ReviewSolicitor collection source logo
Profile image of lynn clark

lynn clark

Wills, Trusts & Probate

The service is unacceptable

Sparlings made a mistake on a simple will and keep after 5 years and a court case of which we won still not paying out the due money. Do not trust this company they seem to not care or abide by the court ruling’s. Leaving us devastated and still not allowing us to put our relatives estate to rest !

Reply by profile image of James Alexander Gomm

James Alexander Gomm

Dear Lynn, We are very sorry to hear about your experience. We have read your comments and appreciate the opportunity to respond. We must respectfully clarify that this matter does not relate to a simple Will- it concerns the administration of a complex estate involving two interlinked estates, in which legal proceedings have taken place. We are currently reviewing the position and will revert to you once the fee-earner assigned to this matter has had the opportunity to fully assess the case. This follows the departure of Laura Gajewska from the firm, and it was not possible for a full response to be provided immediately yesterday, as requested. We do not accept the characterisation presented in this review, which appears to have arisen due to the inability to provide an instant update on what is a complex and ongoing matter. We remain committed to progressing this case appropriately and will be in contact with you shortly but the fee-earner assigned to this case does need sufficient time to be able to review the case(s).

0
Collected on: ReviewSolicitor collection source logo
Profile image of Annie

Annie

Verified
Employment

Redundancy/Settlement Agreement Review

My employer went overboard with the number of documents and processes involved in my redundancy, which made the situation feel a little overwhelming. James and Sian at Sparlings made everything straightforward. They were responsive, supportive, and incredibly easy to work with throughout the entire process. I would not hesitate to contact them again in the future.

Solicitors tagged in
this review

from Sparlings Solicitors

Hi Annie, thank you for taking the time to share your review. Redundancy can be incredibly daunting, so we are pleased to hear that James and Sian were able to cut through the complexity and provide such a reassuring, prompt, and seamless experience for you. We wish you all the best moving forward!

0
Collected on: ReviewSolicitor collection source logo
Profile image of Chloe Bowler

Chloe Bowler

Verified
Housing & Property

Excellent Service, Amazing Team

Excellent service from start to finish. They helped manage the process of another party buying me out of a property, and everything was handled smoothly and efficiently. Communication was always friendly and professional, and they responded very quickly to any questions or concerns I had. I really appreciated how straightforward and stress-free they made the whole process. I would highly recommend their services. Michelle & Kay assisted me through it all, and couldn’t have been more helpful throughout. I am so grateful for everything they done to get the outcome I was looking for. Thank you Sparlings.

Solicitors tagged in
this review

from Sparlings Solicitors

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a wonderful and detailed review, Chloe! Property buy-outs can often be complex, so we are absolutely delighted to hear that Michelle and Kay made the entire process straightforward, smooth, and stress-free for you. Providing prompt, friendly communication and helping you achieve the exact outcome you were looking for is always our top priority. Thank you so much for your high recommendation and for choosing Sparlings!

0
Collected on: ReviewSolicitor collection source logo
Profile image of Michelle Tatum

Michelle Tatum

Family Law

Strong Recommendation

I cannot thank the team at Sparlings Solicitors⁠ enough for the support they provided during an extremely difficult and stressful period in my life. Malina Preda was outstanding throughout. She guided me through complex family matters. Thanks to Malina’s expertise, clear advice, and determination, the outcome was successful. Throughout the entire process, Malina kept me fully informed, explained everything clearly, provided excellent legal advice, and gave me confidence and hope when things felt overwhelming. I always felt listened to, supported, and reassured that my interests were being protected. I would also like to thank Ian Richardson, Emma Goodman, and Daniella Calver for their invaluable help and support. This was a highly complicated and emotional situation, but the team at Sparlings helped me through every step of the journey. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone needing expert legal support.

from Sparlings Solicitors

Thank you for your kind feedback, Michelle. We’re delighted to hear that Malina and the team were able to support you through such a difficult and stressful time. It’s especially pleasing to know that her clear advice, communication, and dedication helped you feel informed, reassured, and confident throughout your case, leading to a successful outcome.

0
Collected on: ReviewSolicitor collection source logo

Other Reviews

Profile image of Rebecca Burton

Rebecca Burton

Rebecca

Used James Gomm a few years ago and had a good experience! This time around I used Kay for conveyancing to purchase our first house! She is amazing! She worked hard to get things done for us and responded quickly, if she couldn’t get the answers she directed you down the right path in order to get what you needed! Amazing! Would highly recommend.

from Sparlings Solicitors

Thank you, Rebecca. We are pleased to hear that Kay provided an amazing service throughout your house purchase and that she was responsive and proactive in guiding you through the process.

0
Collected on: Google collection source logo
Profile image of Rabia

Rabia

Rabia

I had an excellent experience working with Solicitor " Ramsha Shahid" . From the very beginning, she guided me with clarity, patience, and professionalism. Throughout my visa process, she was always available to answer my questions, no matter how small, and her timely support made a very stressful journey much easier for me. Even during unexpected issues at the biometrics office, her preparation and guidance ensured everything went smoothly in the end. She is extremely knowledgeable, dedicated, and genuinely cares about her clients. I am truly grateful for her outstanding service and highly recommend Ramsha to anyone looking for a reliable and supportive immigration solicitor. Thank you, Ramsha, for all your help your support has been invaluable!

Sparlings Solicitors

Dear Rabia, thank you for your generous feedback. We are pleased to note that your experience with our solicitor, Ms Ramsha Shahid, met the high standard of service we strive to provide. Your comments regarding her professionalism, clarity of guidance, and support throughout the visa process are greatly appreciated. We are particularly glad that her assistance helped you navigate both routine and unexpected aspects of the procedure with confidence. Your recommendation is valued, and we thank you for placing your trust in our firm.

0
Collected on: Google collection source logo
Profile image of Gillon

Gillon

Gillon

My experience with Sparlings has been extremely poor. I am beneficiary of an estate for which Sparlings are acting as executors. Communication has been consistently unacceptable, with long periods of silence, refusal at times to communicate by email insisting instead on postal communication, and months of delay for even the simplest requests. This created completely avoidable stress and frustration during an already difficult time. When responses did finally arrive, they were often vague, incomplete, or raised more questions than they answered. Despite the file being handed between multiple staff members, the same issues persisted throughout, indicating a wider problem with organisation and client care rather than an isolated oversight. In my view, this firm has shown a lack of professionalism, transparency, and efficiency. Based on our experience, I would strongly discourage others from using their services.

0
Collected on: Google collection source logo
Profile image of Ashleigh

Ashleigh

Ashleigh

I was recommended Sparlings Solicitors by family and I’m so glad I chose them for my first home purchase. Kay was professional, approachable, and kept me informed throughout the entire process. Everything was explained clearly, and she was always quick to respond to my questions, which really helped make the experience less stressful. The whole process felt smooth and well-managed from start to finish. I’d happily recommend Kay and the team at Sparlings to anyone looking for reliable, friendly, and efficient conveyancing support.

Sparlings Solicitors

Thank you, Ashleigh! We’re delighted that Kay and the team at Sparlings Solicitors made your first home purchase smooth, clear, and stress-free. Your recommendation is greatly appreciated.

0
Collected on: Google collection source logo
Profile image of Jonathan

Jonathan

Jonathan

I would just like to thank Paul Connolly for his help in a small legal matter that I was having difficulty resolving. It was so refreshing to talk to someone with a common sense and a no nonsense approach, who wasn't trying to charge the earth, something which seemed to be severely lacking in the other local firms who I had contacted before being lucky enough to find Paul. Sparlings will certainly be my first port of call for any other legal matters I have to deal with.

Sparlings Solicitors

Thank you, Jonathan. We’re glad Paul’s straightforward approach and support made such a positive difference for you.

0
Collected on: Google collection source logo

Can This Law Firm Assist You?

Find the best legal expertise in the field, tailored to your needs. Assess availability, delve into specialist knowledge, and make informed decisions with transparency of cost.

Law firms are ranked based on past client experience. They can be evaluated by value, quality, and ethical standards, helping you find the firm you need.

See availability
Check expertise
Estimate Costs
Clear