Five Things You Should Remember When Writing A Will UK
by Gareth Hoyle
There are a number of important things to remember when writing a will. It is a very important that you get these right, as a will is one of the most important legal documents you will ever have to make.
Here are five things that you should always remember to do when writing a will.
1) Decide where your possessions are going
You should try to decide long in advance who is to end up receiving what from your estate and personal belongings. This is so you are not persuaded otherwise when people know you are in the process of creating your will. It should be you and you alone that makes these decisions, without the influence of any possible recipients.
2) Ensure you have witnesses
You must always have two witnesses present when signing your will. This is the ensure that you have not been forced into writing down something that you did not want to put in the will, or telling other things that just are not true. Then, when it comes to the time where the will is read before loved ones, there will be a true representation of what your wishes were when your estate and possessions are handed out.
3) Use a will writing service
Similarly, to avoid any influence from members of your family or friends, you should always use a will writing service when creating your will. Will writing services and completely impartial, and can help you decide where you want your assets to go. Their experience will mean that your possessions end up in the right place, and not elsewhere due to the influence of a beneficiary.
4) Keep the will safe
As an incredibly important document and the only way of communicating with loved ones after you are gone, it is important to put your will somewhere safe, and to ensure that at least one trustworthy person knows its location. A safety deposit box or other secure place will be the best for this.
5) Keep your will updated
Once you write your will it is by no means set in stone forever. Wills should change according to life’s circumstances and outcomes. Take time to update it as your life changes. Relationships with people change, and as people come and go from your life, so should your will.
If you need help writing a will , The Co-operative Wills and Funeral Planning can provide professional, experienced and impartial assistance.
Writing a Will Services
Writing a Will Services
by Ron Bateman
Evidence suggests that more than 60% of the adult population in this country die without a will. Fortunately, that figure is decreasing, largely because the market has been opened up to allow will writers to compete with the traditional providers – solicitors and banks in offering a will service that’s far more accessible to the general public. Not only has the increased competition resulted in a drastic reduction in the cost of making a will, it has also made the process so much more convenient. Many will writing firms, visit their clients at home, in the daytime or in the evening, so there’s no longer the need for people to take time off work to visit solicitors or banks during office hours.
It’s important to choose a will writer who is both competent and properly insured. There are two main professional bodies, The Society of Will Writers and The Institute of Professional Will Writers, which give an assurance of competence for their members and guarantee that Professional Indemnity Insurance is in place.
The best form of advertising is, of course, word of mouth. Most businesses depend on recommendations from satisfied customers and to make that possible, it is a must to provide a first-class service at reasonable cost. So when a consultant leaves the clients’ house after a meeting that’s taken about ninety minutes, he has not simply taken instructions for the drafting of a will; he has also provided a great deal of valuable information that the clients are unlikely to obtain anywhere else.
For instance, they will now fully understand the implications of inheritance tax, and how, if legally possible, it can be reduced; they will know what measures they can take, if any, to avoid loss of the family home to pay long-term care fees; they will understand Lasting Powers of Attorney and Advance Medical Decisions (commonly known as ‘Living Wills’), and they’ll have an explanation of the process known as ‘probate’ and the hugely important role played by the executors of their will. Finally, of course, they’ll have peace of mind. They’ll know that their wishes will be carried out, they have received the best possible advice and nothing has been left to chance. And what’s more, when their circumstances change in years to come (as most people’s circumstances do) they’ll take comfort in the fact that will writing firms provide service that includes free amendments, so their wills can be kept up-to-date at no further cost.
Writing a Will and Will Services in north and west London, Surrey, Kent, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire.
Wills – Should I Use a Professional To Draft a Will?
Wills – Should I Use a Professional To Draft a Will?
You do not need to use a professional to draft your will. As Will writing is an unregulated service, anyone is able to write a will or even start a will writing company without having gained any qualifications in relation to will writing. Many people can choose whatever means they wish to use for drafting a will.
Using a solicitor to draft your will is probably the most sensible way to go about it, but it will be costly using a solicitor and their legal services. There are advantages of using a solicitor as they are obliged by law to give you specific information about the work you have asked them to do in relation to the will. They must also give you the best information for you about costs of the work that they need to do and give an estimate of the time it will take if there is a factor of calculation of fee. A solicitor will be clear as to what they will do for you and operate complaints handling procedures if there is an unhappy customer.
It is possible to attempt to draft your own a will online. There are thousands of will writing services that provide online wills which have surfaced in the past few years. The problem with drafting a will online is that there is little difference from doing a diy will writing kit to doing it online. You do not receive the guidance you may require, and you may not have included everything that you would have if you had gone through a solicitor and been guided through the appropriate questions. But, if you are really strapped for cash, an online will is extremely reasonably priced and would be fine for anyone with a straightforward estate and wishes. It is certainly not suitable for anyone who has a large estate and quite a complex family.
The best questions to ask when looking for an online service is whether the provider is reputable, does it provide telephone advice if you are stuck, does it ask questions that are relevant to your circumstances, does it provide the service of a solicitor to look over the will and can you leave the service and return to it another time to continue with the drafting process. These are all the type of questions that you should research the answers to before using an online will writing service.
I am a legal writer covering advice on topics of law, for further text and similar works visit Wills or contact a solicitor today. For more legal advice and information, and for free legal resources I suggest you visit lawontheweb.co.uk.
Making a Will in the UK
Making a Will in the UK By Melinda Rogers
Making a Will is on of the most important things you will ever do. It is important to make a will whether or not you you have many assets or money.
The main reasons why it is so important to Make a Will are:-
1. If you die without making a will (intestate), there are rules which dictate how your assets, money, property and possessions will be allocated. These rules would often distribute your estate in a way that is not how you would have wished your money and possessions to be distributed. For example many people believe that if you are married your estate will automatically pass to your Spouse – this is NOT the case. If you die without making a Will your Spouse will ONLY receive the first £125,000 automatically. Given the value of property these days, and any life insurance you may have, that could leave a large part of your estate that will NOT pass automatically to your spouse.
2. If you have children, you need to make a will so that arrangements for the children can be made if either one or both parents die.
3. Unmarried partners and partners who have not registered a civil partnership cannot inherit from each other unless there is a will.
4. It is not possible to disinherit dependent children. If you are divorced you must make provision for children from a previous marriage is you are paying maintenance.
5. It is often possible to reduce the amount of inheritance tax payable my Making a Will. This is even more important these days due to the increase in house prices over recent years. If your house and life insurance etc exceed £285,000 your estate will be liable to inheritance tax. This can often be mitigated by the use of a will.
6. If your situation changes, it is important that you make a will to ensure that your money and possessions are distributed according to your wishes. For example, if you have separated and your ex-partner now lives with someone else, you may want to change your will. If you get married, re-marry or enter into a legal civil partnership, any previous wills you have made will be invalid.
The easiest, and often cheapest, way to Make a Will these days is ONLINE.
You can Make a fully solicitor checked Will online from as little £29.95
at http://www.online-will.co.uk. Will made here can be written and printed off immediately.
If you wish to reduce Inheritance Tax, this can easily be done by making a Discretionary Trust Will – this can also be done quickly and easily online at http://www.online-will.co.uk
UK Probate – A Brief Terminology Guide
UK Probate – A Brief Terminology Guide
by Tim Bishop
Probate in the UK is process of the court awarding somebody the right to administer a deceased person’s estate. The UK Probate Service issue a document called a Grant of Representation.
The process of ‘probate’ involves the personal representative ( ‘PR’ ) administering the estate. This involves getting in any money that is owed to the testator, paying off any creditors (including inheritance tax) and distributing the estate between the eligable beneficiaries. When he collects the assets the PR will use his grant of representative as proof that he has the Probate Service’s authority to administer that deceased person’s estate.
A breakdown of terminology:
Probate – the legal process of settling and distributing the estate of a deceased person.
Administrator – someone who is appointed by the court to distribute the estate of a person whom has deceased without leaving a valid Will.
Executor – a person who is named by the testator to follow the directions as laid out in the Will.
Personal Representative – the generic term for someone who is either an administrator or executor of an estate.
Intestate – a person is said to have died ‘intestate’ if they have not left a valid will.
What does the Probate Registry/Service do?
The Probate Registry deals with applications for grants of probate which are non-contentious. This in essence means that there is no contention over the validity of the will or a claim over the estate by a potential beneficiary.
The Probate Service does not give out advice to people regarding the construction of a Will or what it needs to contain. If you are thinking of making a will then you should seek professional legal advice.
Who can apply for probate?
Those who normally apply for probate are named executors in the deceased’s will. Nevertheless, if the deceased has not left a valid Will, it may be the next of kin who lodges this application.
It is common for an executor to seek legal assistance in the application for probate, especially when inheritance tax is due on the estate.
The different ‘grants’ issued.
The Probate Registry give out one one of the below grants:
Grant of probate – given to one of the executors (or more) who have been named by the testator.
Grant of letters of administration – will Will attached – this is given to an administrator by the court when those named in the will are not available or not willing to perform their duties. This is also provided in cases where the deceased fails to nominate an executor.
Grant of letters of administration – this is given to an administrator by the court when there is no valid will.
Many organisations will not deal with an administrator or executor without seeing one of these grants from the Probate Registry.
If you decide to appoint solicitors to help you with your probate issues, ensure that they are specialist in probate and inheritance tax – a complex an area of law. If you live in a rural area without access to legal specialists, consider using the online probate services provided by some specialist solicitors.
Bonallack & Bishop are Solicitors specialising in UK Probate work. Contact them if you are interested in their online probate service. Tim Bishop is senior partner at the firm, responsible for all major strategic decisions. He has grown the firm by 1000% in 13 years and has plans for further expansion.
Tips On Picking The Best Bristol Lawyer
Tips On Picking The Best Bristol Lawyer
by James-Teller
Choosing a lawyer in Bristol may be a difficult task, so here are a small amount of suggestions to ensure you choose the proper one for your legal affairs. The initial thing you need to remember is that you do not need a personal lawyer like you need a tax adviser or a family doctor. Lawyers ought to be chosen for particular tasks such as when selling property, when you’re making a will or when starting a business, divorce or separation. Lawyers ought to be employed when you’re in a crisis situation such as personal injury has happened or in a wrongful death situation.
Try and get a few recommendations from friends and family. If they have had a good experience with a particular Bristol lawyer then that is commonly a good place to start out your search.
At a minimum, you should be searching for a person who is expert in the relevant area of law, works efficiently, avoids mistakes, is able to communicate efficaciously with everybody else involved in the matter and produces documents and performs other work promptly and in accordance with any consorted or imposed timetable.
You ought to select at least 3 or 4 lawyers to contact and interview. As long as you’re still happy with them after speaking to them on the phone you should visit their office in person. You ought to for your visit. Write down the questions and concerns you want to cover with the lawyer. Ask, of course, about fees and if a payment plan is available. You ought to explain your situation. Then ask questions regarding how they would handle your case. You ought to what you would be anticipated to do and what he would do. Ask what you would have to pay for paralegals and other staff people. You ought to find out about their record of wins and losses and if they apply to the field of law you are interested in.
Once you have interviewed your short list of lawyers, you will in all likelihood find that there is one that stands out from the rest. This might not just be based on their answers, but also on how they came across when you were talking to them. It always helps if you feel comfortable talking with the lawyer you in the end select to represent you.
For more free info and advice on choosing the best lawyer in Bristol for you please visit Lawyer Bristol
Making a Will UK Video
This video show you how to make a will in thte UK. Hopefully, you will find it useful. Remember, you can make you will online at www.tenminutewill.co.uk so go and take a look now.
The other thing to bear in mind is that you can never make your will too soon! Making a Will UK might sound uninteresting but it is a great thing to do for your family.
Quirky Tales Of Making A Will
Quirky Tales Of Making A Will
by Gary Storer
Our history is full of quirky tales of strange legacies and contested wills. Two of our most iconic and revered national figures – William Shakespeare and Horatio Nelson – left interesting bequests and instructions in theirs.
There has been much speculation about whether leaving your wife your second-best bed, as Shakespeare did to Anne Hathaway, was a warm tribute or calculated sleight. Lord Nelson added a codicil to his will on the morning of the Battle of Trafalgar, in which he left Lady Hamilton (with whom he had an illegitimate daughter Horatia) as a legacy to King and country, asking also that she be financially supported.
Anne Hathaway’s thoughts have not been recorded. Nelson’s petition on behalf of his mistress was not successful and within 10 years of Nelson’s death at Trafalgar, Lady Hamilton had died in poverty in Calais.
Today making a will is no less important than it was centuries ago – indeed it is even more so, as we shall see.
A poll for the charity Barnados showed earlier this year that over half the adults in the UK have not made a will. The figure for cohabiting couples who haven’t made a will is shown as higher at 74%. Some people put off making a will because they are uncomfortable – even superstitious – about thinking about a time after they’re gone. Others may think wrongly that their estate will go to their nearest and dearest automatically.
But once you have made a will, unless circumstances change and you wish to make amendments or additions, you really can consider the job done and forget about it.
There are many good reasons to make a will, not least of which is that your wishes about who inherits your assets and more importantly, if you have children, who should care for them when you are no longer around, are known and set down in a legal document.
For example, if you do not have a will, are unmarried but living with your partner, you may be putting your loved ones at risk. A person who dies without making a valid will is known as dying ‘intestate’. In these cases, the assets belonging to such a person are distributed according to a strict set of default rules, and instead of going to the deceased’s chosen beneficiaries, they are left to relatives in a particular order.
If someone dies without close relatives, it may even mean the estate passing to The Crown, even if the deceased would have preferred friends or charities to benefit.
When you are cohabiting the cohabitee has no entitlement in the event of intestacy therefore it is essential that you make appropriate provision for each other by making wills.
If marriage or a civil partnership is not on the agenda a cohabitation agreement and/or deed of trust when you start to live together, or when you decide to have children, will help to put your mind at rest.
It is also important to note that the effect of entering a marriage or civil partnership is to automatically revoke a will. The only way around this is to make a will called “in contemplation of marriage” to a particular person and within a particular time – then, if these conditions are met, the will remains valid.
For parents with children under 18 a will takes care of such issues as naming guardians for the children and if possible appointing trustees for such capital as we will leave to the children on death. If the unexpected does then happen it is one less – hugely important – detail to have to worry about.
A will is one of those things that only shows its real power and importance when absent. Time spent now preparing a will can save heartache and more expense in the future.
Need Wills Solicitors Birmingham? If you are looking for friendly and approachable Birmingham Solicitors, we can help you. Gary Storer is Practice Manager for Pearson Rowe Solicitors Birmingham.