Wills

Will Writing Advice

A Will is a legal document that sets out your wishes regarding the distribution of your estate and the care of any children. A Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death.

Without a Will, the distribution of your estate will take much longer. This could cause unnecessary distress to the beneficiaries. Disputes can be avoided if a valid Will is in place.

There are many factors involved in writing a Will, and the process may seem complex and time consuming. Our expert advisers will support you in structuring your thoughts. We do not write Wills ourselves but will introduce you to solicitors that do. Simply contact us and we will guide you through the Will writing process from start to finish.

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It is always good idea to understand what’s happening, so read on to find out more about what is involved and why you should make a Will and what will happens if you don’t.

Six reasons why you need a Will

It’s easy to make a Will and it will save your family unnecessary distress at an already difficult time.

  • A Will makes it much easier for your family or friends to sort everything out when you die, without a Will the process can be more time consuming and stressful.
  • If you don’t write a Will, everything you own will be shared out in a standard way defined by the law (Rules of Intestacy), which isn’t always the way you might want.
  • A Will can help reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax that may be payable on the value of the property and money you leave behind
  • Writing a Will is especially important if you have children or other family who depend on you financially, or if you want to leave something to people outside your immediate family. A Will lets you appoint guardians to look after your children and to make provisions for them.
  • If you have remarried, a will can ensure any children from your first marriage get a share of your estate.
  • Unmarried partners may not receive anything from your estate, unless you have made a will in their favour.

What is ‘intestacy’?

Dying without a valid Will is called intestacy or dying intestate.

The law about exactly who gets what is different in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but there are some common problems wherever you live.

Common rules if you don’t make a Will

  • If you’re not married and not in a civil partnership, your partner is not legally entitled to anything when you die.
  • If you’re married, your husband or wife may inherit most or all of your estate and your children may not get anything (except in Scotland). This is true even if you are separated but not if you’re divorced.
  • If you have children or grandchildren, the amount they are legally entitled to will depend on where you live in the UK, but if you make a Will you can decide this yourself.
  • Any Inheritance Tax that your estate has to pay may be higher than it would be if you had made a Will.
  • If you die with no living close relatives, your whole estate will belong to the Crown or to the government.

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