Last Will and Testament

In the time it takes to read this information, someone, somewhere will have died intestate – died without leaving a valid Will (Last Will and Testament). For these people, the Government has written a standard Will, which will almost certainly contradict what their wishes would have been. Making a Will is essential if you are to ensure that as much as possible of your wealth benefits those whom you choose and it is not taken by taxation, unnecessary legal costs and beneficiaries chosen by law. It is important that you consult someone who is trained, qualified, regulated and insured for WIll writing services.

Facts

Why You Should Make a Will

To avoid dying ‘Intestate’ (without a Will) and allowing your possessions to be distributed according to the Law of Intestacy. You will have no control over who inherits and loved ones may inherit nothing at all.
In your Will you can appoint a Guardian, a person of YOUR choice to look after YOUR children if you should die before they reach 18.
Administering an estate, with a Grant of Probate, where there is a Will, is much quicker and cheaper than without. Why give Banks and Solicitors money that may be needed by your loved ones?
It is commonly believed that husbands and wives are automatically entitled to inherit everything from each other – the ‘Common Law Wife’. This is NOT the case.
If you are not married then your partner will NOT inherit your estate.
Increased property values may make your estate liable to Inheritance Tax. This can be minimised or even eliminated by a carefully written Will.
You may want to leave something to your friends, colleagues or charities. This will only happen if you make a Will.

If You Don't Have a Will

To My Family: I hereby leave you all several months, possibly years, of financial hardship and expense whilst you go to unnecessary efforts to sort out my affairs.
To My Spouse: I hereby leave you some (but probably not all) of everything that I own if we are married. If we are not married I leave you nothing.
To My Children: I hereby leave you the remainder of my estate and give you the authority to enforce the sale of any part of it (including the family home) to release your inheritance.
To Social Services: If my children are orphaned I give you the authority of guardianship and the power to choose who shall look after them, including allocating them to foster-parents.
To The Tax Man: I hereby leave you all the tax that I could have avoided and given to my family.
To My Bank/Solicitors: I hereby authorise you to charge whatever you feel necessary to sort out the mess that I have left behind. I release that this could make you one of the major beneficiaries of my estate.
To Everyone Else: I leave you NOTHING!