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Legal Services for Will-Writing & Trusts
Our experienced team of specialists have a wealth of expertise in the creation and administration of Wills in England and Wales. We will be able to guide you through the process of making a Will so that you understand the practical and financial implications of putting your wishes into effect, in a cost-efficient way.
For almost 300 years we have been helping our clients put their family affairs in order and ensure that their assets are protected in the UK or abroad. Our friendly and approachable team offer a straightforward and sensible approach to tax issues and help to plan for the future.
We will work with you to find the best way to minimise inheritance tax, by explaining how to use the exemptions and reliefs available, and also giving consideration to gifts and trusts.
Our Will writing service
Making a Will gives you the knowledge and control over what will happen to your affairs when you die. It gives your loved one’s peace of mind that they are following your wishes, and it is clear who can deal with legal matters for you.
In order to make a valid Will you must be at least 18 years old, make it voluntarily and be of sound mind. When signing the Will, it must also comply with the standard formalities in executing a Will otherwise the Will could be deemed invalid. People tend to write their Wills when they hit key milestones in life, such as buying their first home, getting married or entering a civil partnership, or having children. However, ideally, you should write your Will at the earliest opportunity.
With our assistance in the preparation of your Will, advice can be given on:
- Appointment of guardians for your minor children
- Any funeral wishes that you may have
- Appointment of executors and trustees
- Minimising Inheritance tax that may be payable
- Protecting your assets
- Reducing disputes on death
- Protecting vulnerable beneficiaries
- Capturing inheritance tax, business property relief and agricultural property relief if appropriate
- Owning a holiday home abroad or overseas assets and ensuring your Will works effectively across different countries
Your Will should be reviewed on a regular basis, and particularly if you have a change in your circumstances. This includes a marriage or if you divorce, or if you now have grandchildren and you want them to benefit.
Protecting assets is often a consideration for a lot of clients particularly when considering future care needs. Married couples can benefit from setting up 'life interest trusts' in their Wills. On the death of the first spouse, this trust would come into effect which would protect one half of the home against financial assessment by the local authority
Expert guidance on setting up a Trust
With ageing parents and grandparents, families are becoming increasingly aware of their changing circumstances and the need to protect and safeguard family assets as well as protecting those beneficiaries who are deemed vulnerable. Trusts can be a useful mechanism for this and can also be used to help save tax as well. They can be set up during your lifetime or in your Will.
Our experts can advise you on whether they are suitable for your particular circumstances. Once set up, there are a large number of legal and moral responsibilities for the Trustees and our experts can provide the advice and guidance to comply with ongoing taxation and administration requirements. We can assist you with this, compiling trust tax returns on your behalf and trust accounts, and we can act as professional trustees if appropriate.
FAQs
What do I need to think about before writing a Will?
- The Executors. These are the people who will call in the assets, pay off the debts and distribute the Estate in accordance with your instructions. Your Executors should be over the age of 18 and they can be beneficiaries as well as Executors. It is helpful for your Executors to know of your finances or alternatively to be made aware of where documents are held detailing same. You should tell your Executors where your Will is being stored.
- Assets – both solely and jointly owned – including property, as well as those held in Trust such as Life Insurance policies, pension benefits, death in service benefits.
- Guardians – if you have minor children, who would you want to look after them if there is no one with parental responsibility. It can also be useful to put a letter for your Guardians for your views on education etc.
- Legacies you wish to make – be these specific items such as jewellery, paintings, property and even animals – it is important to people that they make provisions for their furry friends.
- Debts and Liabilities
- How the remainder of your estate is to be divided and to who i.e. once all of the above has been dealt with, debts and executorship expenses have been paid You should think about family, charities as well as if anyone is financially dependent on you.
- It is helpful to provide a brief background as to your family history. If people are not being included in your Will it is important to consider them and why they are being left out.
How do I make changes to my Will?
If the changes are relatively straightforward you can prepare a document called a Codicil which can revoke clauses in your current Will and replace them with new ones. Alternatively, if Solicitors have drafted your original Will it might be recommended that you have a completely fresh Will prepared as this is sometimes just as easy and can be more diplomatic. If the changes are significant a new Will should be prepared.
Life Events that should trigger an update
- Marriage or Civil Partnership (unless you made a Will in contemplation of marriage or civil partnership)
- Divorce or separation
- Death of a beneficiary
- Bankruptcy, or other significant change in circumstances of a beneficiary (e.g. going through matrimonial problems, or becoming disabled or vulnerable)
- The purchase of overseas assets (in which case a foreign Will may be necessary)
- If a Budget introduces inheritance tax changes which will affect your tax liability
- Further lifetime gifts to your children or to anyone else for whom you have a parental obligation – these gifts may have to be taken into account when your executors administer your estate unless you express a contrary intention in your Will.
What is the difference between a Trust and a Will?
A Trust can be set up during your lifetime or upon death. A Will is only activated upon death.
A Trust can provide extended control over assets allowing for carefully thought-out conditions to be applied. A Will offers you a direct say on the distribution of your assets but does not provide extended control over how the beneficiaries might use them.
There are potentially tax mitigating factors to consider when looking at Trusts v Wills depending on your circumstances and your assets and so it is always advisable to take professional advice.
Is my Will valid even if I have separated from my spouse or civil partner?
Yes. A separation does not make your Will invalid. You should alter it as soon as possible (if you do not wish your spouse or partner to benefit). When you get divorced or your civil partnership has been dissolved, your Will will still be valid but read as if your ex-spouse or civil partner had pre-deceased you. Please arrange an appointment to discuss this further with us.
Do I need to change my Will if I get married?
Your Will will be revoked upon marriage unless it has been made in anticipation of that marriage. Please arrange an appointment with us to discuss what your Will says or needs to say.
Can the beneficiaries in my Will also be my Executors?
Yes. However, your beneficiaries should not witness your Will. If you are not sure who can act as your witnesses, please arrange an appointment for us to advise you.
Do common law spouses exist in law?
In short, no. The law does not automatically recognise couples who have lived together as if married or civil partners. This means that if you do not have a Will the intestacy rules do not distribute any part of your estate to your partner. There is an opportunity to make a claim under the Independent (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 if you have lived together for more than two years.
Will you store my Will?
Yes. We will store your Wills free of charge. We also store deeds free of charge for existing clients.
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“Emily was very kind and efficient throughout the process. She made helpful suggestions and ensured we were happy with the final document by giving us time to think it through at home. Our two meetings were cordial and the final document very satisfactory.”