I Ought to Make a Will...  

This is a commonly made statement we have all heard or possibly made at one time. While it is easy to put off, there are good sound financial reasons for making a Will which include: 

You can leave your property, money and other assets to the people you want.
Without a will, the law takes over. If you want to leave anything to a friend or a charity after your death, this can only be achieved by making a Will;

If you do not make a will, your husband, wife or civil partner will not automatically get everything. This could mean that part of the money goes to family members who may not need it;

If you are in a long term relationship but aren't married or in a civil partnership, your partner will not automatically inherit anything – by making a Will you can make sure your partner is provided for;

You can choose your children’s guardian in the event of your death;

You can make sure no more Inheritance Tax is paid than is absolutely necessary;

It may take longer to sort out your affairs
if you do not have a will. This could mean extra distress for your relatives and dependants until they can draw money from your estate.

The Free Willscheme: can my Will be prepared for free?

Yes - if you are aged 50 years or over then
Menneer Shuttleworth solicitors can prepare a basic Will for Free. We subscribe to a scheme operated by The Institute of Cancer Research which allows us to provide free Wills to those aged over 50. However, please note the Free Will Service only covers a basic Will and if you do require a more complicated Will, then we will discuss the additional charges for this which will be payable by you.

Why should I see a Solicitor?

Security and peace of mind that the Will has been properly drawn up, so that your wishes are correctly expressed.  If the correct procedures are not followed a Will, or part of it, may be invalid. 

What if I change my mind?

A Will does not come into effect until your death. You can therefore review its contents as many times as you like during your lifetime. In fact we recommend that you review your Will every five years.

For further information please ask for a leaflet “The Importance of Making a Will”.  If you would like assistance with issues raised in this article then please telephone us for an appointment.