A Will is a crucial legal document that allows you to set out what should happen to your estate (including your property, money, investments, and personal belongings) after your death. It also enables you to appoint a Guardian to care for any minor children.
In your Will, you can:
It is important to seek legal advice to ensure your estate is dealt with in the most tax-efficient way. Inheritance tax can come as an unexpected burden to loved ones if proper planning is not carried out.
If you are married, in a civil partnership, or in a relationship and both wish to leave your estates in a similar way, you may wish to consider making Mirror Wills, which are broadly identical. If your wishes differ, you can each make separate Wills tailored to your individual circumstances.
Many people delay making a Will, as it can be difficult to think about the future and end-of-life arrangements. However, if you die without a Will, everything you have worked hard for may be distributed according to strict legal rules, rather than your wishes. In some circumstances, your estate could even pass to the State.
If you are in a relationship but are not married or in a civil partnership, your partner may not inherit anything from your estate. Instead, your assets could pass to relatives such as your parents or siblings.
Another crucial consideration is who will look after your children if the worst were to happen. A Will allows you to appoint a Guardian, to take care of your children by someone you trust.
If you die in England and Wales without a Will and with no surviving family members, your estate will pass to the State.
By making a Will, you remain in control and can ensure your wishes are clearly set out. You can also plan ahead to manage any potential Inheritance Tax liability.
The current inheritance tax threshold is £325,000.00. This means that if the total value of your estate (including property, savings, and possessions) is below this amount, there is usually no inheritance tax to pay. If your estate is worth more than £325,000.00, inheritance tax may be payable on the amount above this threshold. Careful planning can help reduce the tax payable.
If you already have a Will, it is important to review it regularly, particularly after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or a significant change in your financial circumstances.
Costs:-
Our fees for drafting Wills are as follows:
Home visits are available at a cost of £150.00 plus VAT (£180.00). This fee includes an initial visit to take instructions and a second visit for the signing of the Will.
*Please note that all prices are based on one initial meeting and one meeting to sign any documentation. Any additional meetings to discuss instructions are charged at £50.00 plus VAT, equating to £60.00 per meeting.*
When someone dies without leaving a valid Will, their estate must be distributed in accordance with the Intestacy Rules. These are strict legal rules which set out who inherits, regardless of what the deceased may have wanted.
The Intestacy Rules will also apply where a Will exists but does not deal with the whole estate. In those circumstances, the rules will apply to any part of the estate not covered by the Will.
When considering the Intestacy Rules, it is important to be aware of the following:
A professional Will writing service and we offer free storage in respect of your Will or any other important documents, e.g. deeds to your property.
If you are unable to attend our Office, we can visit you at your home, Care Home, Hospital, Hospice or anywhere else you may be living or staying. Our offices have wheelchair access available.
We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and have rules to adhere to unlike many Will Writing Services found online.
We support Remember A Charity. A registered charity that represents 200 UK charities and works closely with partners in the legal sector, government and private sector to raise awareness of gifts in Wills.
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“I was very satisfied with the way things were handled, especially in the difficult time we are going through”.
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