MAKING A WILL is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death. If you have not made a valid Will, your property will pass according to the Law of Intestacy. This may not be what you would have wished. In any event it is likely to take longer to finalise than if you had made a Will. During this time your beneficiaries may not be able to draw any money from your estate. It can mean arguments and distress for relatives. Making a Will lets your loved ones know that you cared enough to 'sort things out' in advance.
IF YOU are a single person you will want your estate divided amongst friends, relatives and charities of your choosing and in the proportions you want.
IF YOU are married, don't assume 'my other half will get everything'. Brothers and sisters or parents may have a claim. Often your children have a right to part of your estate. If you are living as a couple but not officially married, you may be treated as a single person and a surviving partner may get nothing at all. One thing you can be certain of - there will be argument and dispute at a time when the family should be coping with the loss of a loved one.
IF YOU are a parent, you should consider who would look after your children in the event of your death. This is particularly important in the case of one-parent families or unmarried parents living together. A valid Will nominating guardians is invaluable in such cases. If no one knows what you would have wanted, the Court will decide on the future of your children, and it may not be what you would have wished.
IF YOU are retired maybe you made a Will a long time ago. It probably needs updating to include additional grandchildren or deletion of persons you no longer feel you wish to leave anything to.
A Will brings security, reassurance and above all peace of mind - not just for you, but for all those who depend on you, either now or in the future.
Having your Will written isn't the daunting prospect you might imagine.
Indeed, it gives most people a feeling of great relief.
However Do Not Worry - If You Do Not Have a Written Will, The State Has One For You -
It Will Not Be The One You Want
& It Is Certain Not to Reflect Your Wishes!
What Legacy Can Do For You
Legacy Will Writers & Estate Planners is a Southport based specialist business focused on providing an expert and friendly service to clients in writing Wills and other areas of estate planning, such as Trusts. Our aim is to ensure that you have peace of mind that your assets & loved ones will be fully protected and your wishes clearly expressed at the time of your passing.
Legacy are a member of The Society of Will Writers, a non profit making self regulatory body whose primary objectives are "the advancement, education and ethical standards within the Will writing profession". In order to obtain and retain membership of The Society there is a requirement upon members to qualify by examination and maintain a high level of professional development.
Legacy offer the convenience of home visits at a time that suits your needs and fits in with people's ever busy and variable lifestyles. Evening and/or weekend visits are available if this is more convenient. We will visit clients based anywhere in the North West of England.
We provide a no commitment consultation where we will talk to you and assess your individual situation before advising you on the most suitable and effective way forward, be it a straight forward Will or something a little more complicated in order to best protect what you have spent a lifetime building up. Only after consultation will we suggest the best way forward and seek agreement that you wish to proceed.
Our pricing structure is based on a thorough analysis of the market; we aim to ensure that our prices are both competitive and affordable. We are confident that you will have no doubt that you have received excellent value for money.
The Society of Will Writers website can be visited at thesocietyofwillwriters.co.uk or can be contacted on 0800 838270 where they will gladly verify our membership.
Some of the Services That We Offer
Single & Mirror Wills
A Will is one of the most important documents you will produce in your life, whether you are single or part of a couple (Mirror Will). Your Will allows you to express your wishes and determine how your loved ones will benefit from your estate.
Living Will (Advance Directive)
An advance directive allows you to make a statement to your friends and family as well as to medical practitioners. You can state what you wish to happen to you (and what treatment you should receive) if you reach a point where medically you no longer have a tolerable life.
Severance of Joint Tenancy
A useful tool for numerous reasons. If you and your partner are joint tenants of a property you may wish to sever the tenancy for tax, ownership or succession purposes. This process of effectively splitting the property into defined shares involves a legal process called Severance of Joint Tenancy. You subsequently become tenants in common of the property.
Enduring Powers of Attorney
Allows you, while mentally capable, to determine who can intervene in your affairs should you become mentally incapable at a later point in life.
Property Protection Trust
Allows you to protect your property, or a significant share of it at least, from any costs accruing from Local Authority residential care you may require in later life.
Disabled Discretionary Trust
If you have a loved one with special needs who you wish to benefit from your estate it is advisable to set up an appropriate trust. This will ensure that any legacy does not simply end up paying for their Local Authority Community or Residential Care.
Inheritance Tax Planning
Are your assets valued at above the IHT threshold (2006/07: £285,000)? This is becoming more common as property values soar and the threshold does not rise accordingly, if so IHT is levied at 40%. Good IHT planning to utilise exemptions and/or creating an effective IHT Trust allows you to expand the standard threshold, saving up to £114,000 on your estate.
Other Trusts
Dependant upon your circumstances, there are numerous other trusts which can be designed and set up to meet your needs.
Will Storage
Ensure that your Will is securely and clearly located to avoid confusion and potential conflict at a later stage. Storage is provided by The Society of Will Writers and you and your executor(s) are provided with documentation clearly identifying how to access your Will when needed.
Business Opportunities
If you are the owner or manager of a business Legacy can provide you with the opportunity to offer your workforce the chance to ensure that their affairs are taken care of professionally through our Will Writing & Estate Planning services.
Staff welfare is a key prerequisite of a caring employer and ensuring that your workforce, or indeed their relatives, have peace of mind in ensuring that they have a valid, up to date Will and that any concerns that they may have in respect of Inheritance Tax, Long Term Care costs or Powers of Attorney are addressed is beneficial for staff welfare.
Legacy can talk to your staff through a presentation or on an individual basis, either in or out of work hours. Alternatively we could inform staff through a display, the intranet or any other means you deem suitable.
In return, dependant upon the size of your workforce, we can offer a substantial corporate discount on our standard prices from which your staff can benefit.
Please call us to discuss this fantastic opportunity at greater length. |
