Last Will & Testament

Someone who dies without a Will dies ‘Intestate’. This means that the property that belongs to that person is then inherited according to a strict set of rules called the ‘Intestacy Rules’.

Instead of the property passing to the people the person would have wanted it to go to, it is left to certain relatives in a particular order . Don’t let this situation happen to you and your family!

We take pride in our work in creating professional, straightforward Wills. We also have the necessary Insurances, Codes of Practice and Procedures in place to give you the peace of mind that our services are of the highest standards.

Having a professionally created Will can enable people to focus on their loved ones during an already stressful time. Did you know that without a Will you cannot do the following

Appoint legal Guardians for your children

Yes this is done by appointing in your Will….otherwise the state will decide who looks after your children.

Make known your Funeral wishes

This allows your family to know whether you wish to be buried or cremated and any other special wishes.

Ensure your Assets go to the right people

The size and structure of your estate has to be identified and you must be aware of assets held jointly or in single names

Appoint Executors to administer your estate

Without Executors who will distribute your estate and carry out your wishes?

Plan to potentially reduce your Inheritance Tax bill

Do you know the formula of whether or not your estate will be liable to pay inheritance Tax?

Help to avoid unnecessary Probate procedures

Advice can be given on how it’s possible for an estate not to have to go through the long and stressful probate procedure.

So, what is an Executor and what is a Guardian?

An Executor will be responsible for: Establishing all the assets of the estate Dealing with the paperwork and calculations Paying all the debts, liabilities and taxes and the various expenses, such as funeral costs Distributing all the property that remains in the estate in accordance with the terms of the will – paying legacies, transferring particular items of property to beneficiaries and paying out the residue of the estate.

A guardian’s role is to take care of your children in the event of both parents’ death. Their role involves taking on the obligations and liabilities of bringing up your children, rather than leaving it to the court to decide who is the most suitable person. Choosing a guardian obviously requires careful consideration. Once the appointment of a guardian has taken effect, the estate of the deceased person will almost always be held in trust for the children and its income can be used for their maintenance. It is therefore worth thinking about whether to make the guardians executors and trustees as well.

Did you know that there is on average 40% of people over the age of 65 who do not have a will? This increases to 55% for 55-64 year olds, 71% for 45-54 year olds and a massive 86% on average for people under the age of 45!