Professional Will Writing Service
Experienced Will Writers
What is a Will?
Having a Will is arguably one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. Not only can a Will legally protect your spouse, children, and assets, it can also spell out exactly how you would like things handled after you have passed away.
The importance of making a Will
If you do not have a Will, you have no say over what happens to your assets when you die, and this can cause difficulties for those you care about most.
Because of this, everyone should have a Will; this is particularly true if you own property, are married, have entered a civil partnership, or have a long-term partner. It also applies if you have children or other dependants, or if you wish to leave something to someone who is not a close family member.
It is a common belief that, if you are married or in a civil partnership, your spouse or civil partner will automatically inherit everything you own when you die. In fact, they do not, the law sets out rules that determine how your assets are to be divided if you should die without making a Will which means your spouse may not inherit automatically and children could also lose out on their inheritance if the Will is not structured properly.
Equally, the rules make no provision for a partner if you are not married or in a civil partnership, so the only way you can make sure you look after each other is by way of a Will.
Facts about Wills
- – Dying ‘intestate’ (without a Will) means your possessions will be distributed according to the law of intestacy
- – In your Will you can appoint a guardian – a person of your choice – to look after your children if they are under 18
- – Administering an estate – with a grant of probate and where there is a Will – is far quicker and cheaper than without a will
- – It is commonly believed that husbands and wives are automatically entitled to inherit everything from each other, but this is not the case
- – If you are not married or in a civil partnership, your partner will not inherit from you unless you have a Will
- – A carefully prepared Will – drafted with appropriate trusts – can minimise the amount of inheritance tax paid
- – You may want to prevent certain members of your family benefiting from your estate; this can only be done through a Will
- – You may want to leave something to friends, colleagues or charities; this will only happen if you make a Will
Ask yourself the following questions if you already have a Will
- – is it up-to-date and relevant?
- – does it still say what you want it to say?
- – does it protect your home from care costs?
- – does it minimise your liability to inheritance tax?
- – does it protect your children if your partner remarries?
If the answer is No to any of the above, it may be time to act now and review you Will. We are happy to offer a free Will review to help you understand if your current Will is right for you.
We can provide legal advice regarding:
- Making a Will
- Contesting a Will
- Inheritance tax
- Trust deeds
- Power of attorney
Living Will
A Living Will is current whilst you are alive as the name suggests. It involves clear instructions to your GP and doctors and should be documented on your medical records stating how you wish to live or at what point you do not wish to be treated. This becomes your voice and would stop the burden being put onto your loved ones to making the dreaded decision and stop any risks of a family disagreement.
There are 3 conditions:
Do not Resuscitate, Intolerable Condition and Maximum treatment.
If you wish to learn more please contact us on 0116 4647055 / 0208 1947189.
Talk to Us:
info@paradigm-wills.com
(Leicester) 0116 464 7055
(London) 0208 194 7189
(National) 0800 999 7750