Professional Will Writing
Why a Will?

Why should I have a will?

A will permits you to do many things that would not be possible if you were to die intestate (without a will). This includes specifying the person(s) who will administer your estate, giving direction to your executors as to what is to happen to specific assets, achieving desired tax and estate planning objectives, protecting your assets from being used to pay for Long Term Care fees and indicating who should be the custodians of your young children.

Call us on 01202 876 666 or complete the contact form to make an appointment and discuss you Will.

What happens if I die without a Will?

Dying without a will (intestate) will have various consequences. Firstly, the cost of administering your estate will be higher, and the person who is given authority to administer your assets will not necessarily be someone you would have chosen. The distribution of your estate is fixed by statute, irrespective of your intentions or the beneficiaries needs, with all amounts paid out to heirs as soon as they turn 18 years of age. In the meantime, trustees are limited in the scope of the investments they can choose to make on behalf of minors, with the Childrens Lawyer, a government appointee, administering the share for a child. If you have children your spouse may not inherit everything.

Can I make my own will?

In England and Wales you can write your own will, however there are many traps for the unsuspecting person which could result in estate assets passing to persons not intended to receive them, either because key will provisions are invalid, or because the persons choice of words runs foul of a legal rule or principle of which the writer was unaware. The best advice is to rely on a professional will writer to take your instructions and translate them into legally effective provisions in your will. Wills Trust aims to cover every foreseeable angle and our Will process is far more in depth than most services available.

I already have a Will. How often should it be reviewed?

It is important to review your will whenever there have been changes in family circumstances (for example, births, deaths, disabilities, marriages, separation or divorce) or if there has been a significant change in your wealth, whether an increase or a decrease. But even if no such changes have occurred, there may be changes in income tax or other laws in the interim.

Do I need to worry about taxes on my death?

If your assets total more than £285,000 your beneficiaries will be liable to pay 40% on the surplus assuming no Inheritance Tax provisions have been made, currently there is no liability between spouse & partner. Inheritance Tax can be a complex matter which needs to be addressed with the attention it deserves. Please contact us for further information.