A PERSONAL APPROACH TO WILL WRITING & ESTATE PLANNING

WILLS AND TESTAMENTS

What Is A Will?

A Will is a legal document that allows you to legally state what should happen to your assets when you are no longer here. It also provides the peace of mind of knowing your loved ones are taken care of.

  • A Will allows you to provide clarity on a whole range of practical matters
  • If you have children, it can say who should look after them if you died unexpectedly
  • You can name trusted individuals to handle the administrative side of dealing with your property and possessions
  • You can protect your assets for your family and future generations

What Happens If I Do Not Have A Will?

If you die without a Will, the Rules of Intestacy decide who will receive your property and possessions. These rules were created back in 1925, so they do not properly reflect today’s families and modern living arrangements.

The Rules of Intestacy means that you cannot assume that spouses, civil partners and biological children are taken care of as you may wish. There are also no provisions for unmarried partners, step-children and friends. In effect you are allowing the government to handle how your estate is distributed.

The Rules of Intestacy may result in your property and possessions being inherited by somebody that you do not want to benefit and therefore you will be leaving your family’s future undecided. Without a Will, you will be unable to put plans in place for your children. What is more, you will not be able to provide for vulnerable beneficiaries or have the opportunity to protect the value of your estate for loved ones in the future.

The Importance Of Having A Will Professionally Written

Wills are important legal documents and if badly written or incorrectly worded, can create even more problems than not having one at all. It is important to seek the help and advice of professionals who have the appropriate skills to draft them.

People continue to use DIY Packs and self-help books to write their Wills but fail to take into consideration how a small mistake made now could be far more costly for their family in the long run.

The Importance Of Keeping A Will Up To Date

You may have already written a Will; perhaps when you bought your first house or when your children were young.

However, a lot may have changed since the Will was written, therefore it may not properly reflect your wishes now. For example, you may now have grandchildren or some of the people mentioned in it may have since passed away or you may now have many more assets.

It is advisable to review your Will after every significant life change, so it still reflects your wishes. Life events such as marriage or divorce mean that parts of your existing Will (or even all of it) will automatically become invalid making a re-write necessary.