Wills
We all know we should make a Will but the truth of the matter is that an amazing 70% or so of us have not done so.
Why is that the case?
For many people it is simply a case of putting it off. For others, the decision not to make a Will is based on considerations like “I have got nothing to leave” or “my family know what I want”. The stark truth, however, is that if you die without it you leave your nearest and dearest in the dark as to what your wishes really were and leave it to the law, not you, to determine who gets what.
By making a Will you can give your family a sense of certainty at what is obviously a very difficult time for all concerned as your Will will set out clearly:
- Who is to take charge (your executors);
- What gifts you want to make, be it gifts of personal belongings or cash gifts;
- Who is to receive the “residue” of your estate – which may be the biggest part of it depending on what other gifts you make.
In modern times one of the most important reasons for making sure you have a Will in place is that society has changed. With extended families, couples marrying for a second time and parties simply living together without marrying or, in the case of same sex relationships, entering into a Civil Partnership means that those who you may see as the obvious beneficiaries of your estate may receive nothing at all and may have to resort to costly legal proceedings to try and obtain what they see as rightfully theirs. Not having a Will in those circumstances can leave those around you in a somewhat perilous position.
The process involved in making a Will is not necessarily complex but it does need to be expertly and thoroughly handled. Our aim is to explain the process simply and clearly and to bring to your attention issues regarding your circumstances and to save any client from saying during an interview discussing their Wills “I never knew that” or “I didn’t realise that that would happen”. Make a Will – for everybody’s peace of mind.
