A man who successfully challenged his mother's final will is likely to recover the lion's share of his legal costs after the High Court ruled that his brother, who attempted to uphold the will's validity, should pay his costs on the indemnity basis . In...
Making a Will ensures that your estate is dealt with according to your wishes in the event of your death. By making a Will and keeping it up to date you ensure that your family and dependants experience minimal issues with the administration of your estate.
Only by making a Will can you be confident that your estate will pass to those that you wish to benefit such as your family and friends.
Do you have children under the age of 18?
If you have children under the age of 18 you may have worried about who would be responsible for their care in the event of your death. By making a Will you can appoint a Guardian or Guardians who you would trust to take care of your children should you predecease them.
Do you own a business?
A Will can ensure the smooth transition of your business’s ownership or sale after your death. A Will can be vital in ensuring your business’s continued success in the hands of successors of your choosing.
When should you review your Will?
In particular, you should review your Will if:-
- You become a parent or grandparent
- You move house
- You retire
- You receive an inheritance
- You lose a family member
- You are worried about the costs of care home fees diminishing your estate
- You have recently got married
- You have recently got divorced
In addition, there can be changes of which you may be unaware such as Inheritance Tax rules.
We have produced a number of handy guides to help you when making a Will.
Why should I use a Solicitor to make a Will?
Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and have to undergo regular training to ensure that they are kept up to date with any legal changes. Our designated team of Will Writer’s also undergo regular training and are able to tap into the knowledge of our experienced Solicitors at any time.
You should be aware that Will Writers at Will Writing firms have no recognised legal qualifications and are unregulated which could allow for mistakes or complications when administering your estate. It is for this reason that you may decide that it is the safest option to make a Will with a firm of Solicitors.
Andrew Robertson is on Mencap’s Wills and Trusts Service’s list of recommended solicitors to parents and carers of children with a learning disability and is able to offer advice to parents and carers who are considering making their Wills to plan for the future of their vulnerable child. For more information about Mencap’s Wills and Trusts Service, please take a look at www.mencap.org.uk/willsandtrusts.
Click on the download link to the right to obtain a copy of our preliminary Will Instruction Form. The form asks all the basic questions for a simple will. Fill the form in and bring it with you to your interview, when you have arranged one.