Wills legal advice
Legal experts in wills
Most people see making a Will as something to leave until later in life, or they put it off assuming that it’s an expensive process to go through. People often also wrongly assume that anything they leave when they go will automatically be left to their partner. This is not necessarily the way things work out, and the only way to be sure that your estate is distributed the way you want when you’re gone, is to make a Will. These days, there’s no reason for writing a Will to be time consuming or costly, and one thing’s for sure – your family will thank you for doing it.
We are experts in Wills
We have expertise in all aspects of this process, from the preparation of making a Will to advice on whatever provisions you wish to make in the management of your estates, finances and assets. We write over 60,000 Wills each year, including those for the four major UK clearing banks and other large financial organisations. Whatever your requirements, we’ll work with you to make the best of your assets, planning carefully and innovatively so as to benefit your family as much as possible after your death.
Equally, we have significant experience in working for clients wishing to contest a Will.
The reasons for making a Will
There are plenty of reasons for making a Will, least of all because its simple, affordable and the only way of ensuring your estate is distributed to the people you want it to go to!
- A Will is the only way you can dictate who gets a share of your estate when you’re gone – it doesn’t (as is often assumed) automatically pass to your spouse or civil partner.
- In fact, if you have no immediate family and no Will, the money goes to the government.
- It’s also important, even though it’s unpleasant to think about, to know that if both you and your partner, spouse or civil partner die, only a Will can ensure that your children are properly provided for.
- Property and assets you share with your partner are not automatically covered in their Will - you should each have your own separate Will.
- If you have married, entered into a civil partnership, separated, divorced or remarried since you made your Will, you must make a new one.
- When you marry or enter into a civil partnership, any Will you may have already made is normally null and void.
- If you made your Will some time ago, it’s important to review it in light of changed circumstances.
- You can reduce the tax your Estate will incur when you die by careful drafting the terms of the Will
Making a Will
The process involved in making a Will need not be too complex, but it does need to be expertly and thoroughly handled, or it might let down the people you want to benefit when you‘re gone.
Most people we work for begin with plenty of questions – on tax, the rights of unmarried people, co-habitees and those in civil partnerships, the guardianship of children, changing a Will, trusteeship, or how to contend a Will – but we can soon put their minds at ease with simple clear advice, responsive to their situation.
If you are unwell an unable to come to our offices, we can make arrangements to visit you at home, or you could make use of our postal Will writing service. Alternatively, you could look into making your Will online at Irwin Mitchell – it’s that simple!
The Civil Partnership Act in relation to Wills
The new Civil Partnership Act, introduced in December 2005, allows same sex couple legal recognition of their status as a couple. A civil partnership is not legally binding in the same way as marriage but it does afford some of the privileges of marriage, like those relating to Wills.
If you register a civil partnership with someone, any Will you already have is revoked, and you will need to make a new one. If a civil partner dies without making a Will, the surviving partner has the same rights as a married couple to make use of the intestacy rules to fight for access to the estate.
For more information call 0870 1500 100, or use the links above to drop us a line.