Wills & Probate
We know the potential pitfalls and we will make sure that you have considered every possibility
Why should you have a will?
You need to make a Will that makes your wishes clear and that is legally valid and binding upon your death. This will avoid confusion and conflict amongst your loved ones and save them from costly and stressful legal disputes.
What happens if you do not have a will?
If you do not have a Will when you die your assets will be shared out in accordance to the law rather than your wishes. This means they can pass to someone you hadn’t intended as the ‘Rules of Intestacy’ will come in to effect.
You Will Need To Consider The Following
How do you know a Will is valid?
To be valid, the person making the Will must be mentally competent, the Will must be correctly signed and witnessed, and show no evidence of tampering. The witnesses to the Will cannot be beneficiaries, or related to beneficiaries and must be over 18.
If there is any doubt, or potential for dispute as to your mental competence, you should get a doctor’s confirmation of your capacity to make the will and include it with your Will.
How often should I review my Will?
You should certainly review your Will after any major events, such as marriage, divorce, property purchase or sale, death of a beneficiary or if your assets change significantly.
We also recommend that you take a look at your Will every couple of years just to make sure that it is still the best instrument for you and for your family.
Who will be your Executors?
Your Executors have the legal and administrative task of sorting out your assets and debts after you die and making sure that your wishes as outlined in the Will are upheld.
Who will be your beneficiaries and what effect will their inheritance have on their circumstances?
You can designate anyone as a beneficiary and distribute your assets in any way you like, however if you don’t provide for your family and dependents, your will can be contested and your hard won assets used on litigation fees.
You also should consider the effects that an inheritance may have on your beneficiaries. In some cases a testamentary trust can sidestep potential taxation problems, so it’s important that you get specific advice about your situation.
What is probate?
Probate is the process of distributing a person’s estate who has passed away. If the deceased left a Will then you will be issued with a Grant of Probate. If the deceased did not leave a Will, you will be issued with a Letter of Administration
You can rely on us
We help you plan for the future, giving you peace in mind to enjoy the present.
We are aware that most clients are not able to physically attend our office and that is why we have implemented measures to allow us to assist our clients from their homes.
We allocate our clients to a dedicated specialist lawyer within our team who are the main point of contact and will communicate clearly and provide regular updates.
Our specialist team has vast knowledge in the areas of Wills & Probate with over 35 years’ of experience.
We feel that our reviews accurately reflect the level of professionalism and service that we provide to all of our clients. We would welcome you to take a look at our online reviews and also those on third-party websites such as Google and Trustpilot.
We offer a fixed fee service at a competitive rate.