Why do I need a Will?
The vast majority of people put off making a Will for a variety of reasons, either believing that the people they would wish to inherit will automatically do so, or because they don’t think it is relevant to them at this particular time.
The reality is that you can put off making a Will until it is too late and this poses all sorts of problems for the people left behind and could mean that some, or all of your inheritance, either goes to the wrong person or to the state.
Everyone needs to make a Will. In particular, anyone with dependant relatives must do so. Anyone who owns a property or has any type of asset which you would wish relatives, friends or charities to benefit from should also make a Will.
Without a Will...
- You cannot be sure those you would wish to benefit will actually do so.
- Your spouse / civil partner will not automatically inherit ALL of your estate.
- “Common Law” partners may not receive anything.
- Minor children could be taken into care whilst Guardians are appointed.
- There could be lengthy delays for your beneficiaries and disputes.
Making a Will enables you to plan exactly what will happen to your property (estate) following your demise. This ensures that those you would like to benefit actually do so, in accordance with your wishes and at the same time avoiding any disputes between relatives.
Will writing
Having a Will is the only way to have a full say in how your money, property and belongings are shared out and how your affairs are handled when you die.
Not having a Will means you have no control over what will happen and your loved ones may not be provided for in the way you wish them to be. Dying without a Will also risks leaving your family with the stress of sorting out family disputes and financial or legal issues that could have been avoided.
A Will is a legal document that sets out your wishes in crystal clear terms and setting one up isn’t difficult. But getting it right is important – Mistakes can turn out to be as bad as having no Will at all.
This is why using a qualified Will Writer makes sense.
- The right people get the right things – Making a will ensures that all your wishes are clear and that your money, and posessions are distributed in the way you want.
- Appoint someone to look after your affairs – A will allows you to appoint people you trust to manage your estate.
- Your partner will be taken care of – If you aren’t married or in a civil partnership, your partner could be overlooked if you dont have a Will as the law will then dictate what haoppens to your estate.
- Your children will be looked after – You can make arrangements for the care of your children (under 18) by appointing a guardian.
- You can document your funeral plans – you can outline in your Will, details of the funeral plans you would like.
If you don’t make a Will, you die ‘intestate’ and the rules of ‘intestacy’ will decide how your estate is shared out. These rules also override the wishes expressed in a Will that’s not legally valid, so it pays to get a Will right.
Only married or civil partners who are legally married at the time of death and some other close relatives, can inherit under intestacy rules. These people have no right to inherit from you if you die intestate:
- Unmarried partners
- Same sex couples not in a civil partnership
- Relations by marriage
- Close friends
- Carers
If you have no surviving close relatives your entire estate will go to the Crown.
How we work
We offer a straight forward Will writing service and offer extensive expert help and support.
We will provide you with a clear, fixed fee upfront – There is no need to visit a solicitor’s office – everything can be arranged at our meeting which can be conducted at your home at no extra charge.
Your Will is drafted and checked by lawyers – so you can be confident it’s correct and legally binding.