Writing a will with the help of a specialist will writing solicitor is highly recommended. A professionally produced will involves consultation, advice and guidance.
Our experienced wills solicitors go beyond merely ensuring that your will is legally valid. They offer advice on how best to structure the gifts you wish to pass on, both through your will and during your lifetime, to help avoid or reduce any potential tax burden.
Will writing is a very personal matter so we give each and every client a high level of personal attention. Your circumstances and wishes will be different to other people’s so there is no generic template for making a will. Our wills solicitors tailor your will to your individual requirements.
Why should you make a will?
Many people put off making a will. This is unfortunate because your will is probably one of the most important documents you can complete. You need a will if:
You are married or in a civil partnership
Making a will is a great way to help secure your spouse’s or civil partner’s future. It is particularly important if assets are owned separately. Without a will then your spouse or civil partner may only be entitled to the first £322,000 from your estate and the income from half of the remainder. If you have no will your estate passes under the rules of intestacy.
You have children
You can use your will to select who you would like to look after your children should you die. Wills can also be used to provide for your children’s futures by stating what is to happen to your assets. Similarly, you can provide for your grandchildren by setting up trust funds for their education etc.
You are in a long term relationship
If you are not married or in a civil partnership you would need a will to pass on your assets to your partner. For instance, couples often buy properties together but hold their own separate shares in it. To make sure your partner gains the benefit of your share it is necessary to cover this in your will otherwise it will pass through the intestacy rules.
You want to pass on legacies
You may be considering passing on a specific personal item or a financial gift to a friend, family member or charity. The only way to do this after your death is through your will.
You want to prevent the loss of your home to home care fees
Wills can also be used to protect the whole or part of your estate from care home fees. If you own or jointly own your own home then the whole or your share can be put into trust for your relatives so that it is not available for paying care home fees.
You’ve been divorced
Any will you had in place prior to your divorce will be affected by the divorce. For instance, any gifts to your former spouse will fail as the law regards her as predeceasing you. However, until you are formally divorced then the terms of the will remain valid. The same applies to dissolutions of civil partnerships.
You are about to marry/enter into a civil partnership
Marriage or civil partnership will cancel any previous will you have made unless it specifically provides otherwise. Therefore, unless you make a new will, your estate will pass under the rules of intestacy.
You are concerned about inheritance tax
Wills remain a very good way to mitigate against inheritance tax. We will be happy to talk through the options with you.
Home visit service
We understand it is not always easy to come to us. That is why we offer a Home Visit Service to clients who would like to discuss issues such as making a will, creating trusts, lasting powers of attorney or discussing the administration of a deceased person’s estate (probate).
We can visit clients in a hospital, hospice, care home or nursing home to help sort out their affairs and can make out of hours appointments by arrangement.