Wills and Probate
Ensuring that your loved ones are provided for
We believe that a Will is one of the most important documents that you will draw up in your life. Making a Will is the only way to ensure that your family and friends are provided for to your specific requirements. By preparing a Will you are also appointing executors to carry out your wishes and these can be nominated as friends, members of your family or your solicitor.
A Will is particularly important if you have children. You may want to appoint guardians for children under the age of 18 and establish Trust Funds to look after their interests.
How we can help
We can work with you on developing your Will. As solicitors working within the community, we pride ourselves in our friendly and approachable manner and we strive to deal with your personal matters in a caring and sympathetic manner.
We find that many of our clients are either elderly or the family of elderly individuals, and we're often asked the following questions with regards to Wills:
- Will I lose my home and savings if I go into a nursing home?
- My partner lives with me - will our house have to be sold to pay my nursing home fees?
- Can I give away my property and money before I go into a residential home?
- My children paid for my council house - what will happen to it if I go into a residential home?
- My mother’s health is gradually deteriorating - how can I help her look after her affairs?
- What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
- Can I fund the payment of future nursing home fees?
We also have the expertise to advise you on all legal issues relating to the needs of the elderly, and can provide wide-ranging advice on:
- Community care issues
- Finance and benefit problems
- Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Court of Protection receiverships
- Advance directives (living Wills)
- Administration of estates
We advise on all aspects of dealing with property and assets and we can help you make a Lasting Power of Attorney to allow someone else to assist you in dealing with your affairs should you ever become incapable of doing so yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Q - What happens if I don't make a Will?
A - Surprisingly, only 3 in ten people make a Will. If you die without making a Will the law decides how your estate will be divided and who will deal with it. This process can be costly and sometimes traumatic for your family to sort out.
Q - But I have nothing to leave! What is the point?
A - You're probably worth more than you think. A house, a car and life assurance policies all have to be distributed after your death. We will help you to calculate the worth of your assets and make sure nothing has been left out.
There may also be items of sentimental value that you would like to leave. We can explain the different ways to leave gifts and examine any tax implications which may arise from doing this.
Q - How much will it cost?
A - We can tell you how long it will take and how much it will cost from the outset. The cost of not making a Will could be a great deal more.
Q - How often should I update my Will?
A - You should review your Will with us at least every three years, or when there are major changes in your life such as moving house, marriage, divorce or children. We will safely store your original Will and provide you with a copy so that you can refer to it whenever you wish to do so.
