What are the benefits of making a Will?

If someone dies without making a Will, they are said to die intestate. Many people assume, quite wrongly, that all their property will automatically pass to their spouse/partner.  This is not the case and it can be as painful as it sounds for their loved ones who may suffer financial hardship and distress when they least need it.

The benefits of making a Will include: –

  • Making the legal process in dealing with their affairs easier and much less painful at a time when their loved ones will need all the help that they can get.
  • They can name the beneficiaries (including charities and friends if they so wish) and they will know with certainty who will inherit from their life’s efforts.
  • They can appoint guardians of their choice who would look after their children, if necessary, until they reach the age of eighteen.
  • They can nominate executors of their choice to deal with their affairs.
  • They can distribute their assets in such a way that any Inheritance Tax is mitigated or even removed altogether.
  • They can protect the family home against long-term care costs.
  • Their family will have clear directions on how to deal with their affairs and may not need to employ (and pay) professionals.
  • They can make specific or monetary gifts and express any wishes regarding medical donations or funeral arrangements.

There are many types of Wills, all designed to accommodate a person’s specific needs.

Wills – Single and Mirror

These are simple Wills where a single person or a couple leaves their estate absolutely to the named beneficiaries. In the case of a couple, this is generally to their spouse/partner and then down to their children, if there are any.

Protective Property Trust Wills

By placing the family home in a Will Trust, the risk of the home being sold to pay for long-term care costs should one of them have to go into residential care can be minimised, thus protecting at least half the value of the property for the beneficiaries.  This type of Will is particularly appropriate for elderly parents or relatives and lexapro and protects the family home. It can also be used to protect an inheritance for children from a previous marriage or if a surviving partner were to re-marry.

Will Overturned Due To Incorrect Signing

It has recently been reported that the daughter of a pensioner, who left the majority of his £870,000 estate to his three sons, has won a legal battle to declare the Will invalid.

Evidence came to light that the two witnesses to the document were not both present at the same time to see the testator sign. As a result the estate will now be shared equally between the six children.
(Mail on line & others Sept 2011)

Castle Wills always explain the signing procedure, and its importance, thoroughly to clients. We also include a guide with the Will and check for errors when returned levitra to us. In addition we are happy to attend signings without charge.

Duties of an Executor

You may find yourself responsible for dealing with someone’s estate if they have chosen you as the Executor or joint Executor in their Will.

Your role is one of trust and responsibility, as you are being asked to act as a personal representative to administer the estate of the person in accordance with the terms of their Will after their death.

Examples of some of the tasks of an Executor:

Continue reading Duties of an Executor

How Does Divorce Affect A Will?

I was divorced recently, but how do I ensure that my ex-spouse does not receive anything under my Will?

Divorce automatically revokes gifts to a former spouse and removes that person as an Executor if he or she was so appointed, unless the Will provided otherwise. However, if the scheme of distribution in your Will contemplates gifts to your ex-spouse, the chances are that other changes will be appropriate as a consequence and you should therefore not rely on the revocation rule. Furthermore, unless xanax you make a new Will, your Executor will be obliged to notify your ex-spouse that an application for probate has been submitted to the court, and your former spouse may participate in the proceedings if he or she wishes. They may argue that your Will indicates an intention that they should receive bequests under the Will notwithstanding the divorce.

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 person’s 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.

Contact us today for more information