Making a Will
At Ashworth Law, we’re passionate about Wills – not just because we have a great team of experts in this area, but because we see first hand the value of making a Will, and the sense of relief our clients have once they know things will be taken care of after their death.
Sadly only about one-third of the population has made a will, yet it is incredibly important. The consequences of dying without a will fall on your loved ones, who are left to second guess your wishes whilst constrained by a strict set of regulations, known as Intestacy Laws, which specify how an estate is divided. These may well not be same as the wishes of the deceased.
If you have family or friends, or if you would like to donate money to charity, then the only way to make sure your assets go to the people you want is to make a will. Likewise in a will you can leave specific instructions regarding the care of your dependent relatives, such as young children.
Wills provide you with many benefits, including:
- Total control over who deals with your estate
- Guarantees that your assets are divided according to your wishes
- Minimising Inheritance Tax with the correct forward planning
- Specifying your wishes for the care of dependent relatives
- Taking the burden of decision making away from your loved ones at a time of heightened emotional stress – you will gives a clear set of instructions to be followed, not second guessed.
Our experts will take you through a pain free process to draw up your will. We know the questions to ask, and can help you work out how best to reflect your wishes in a will, whilst minimising your Inheritance Tax burden.
It is possible to write a will yourself, but please remember that to be valid, your will must comply with the Wills Act 1837. There are also a number of will-writing firms now available. Many of these provide a very cheap service, but it is important to point out that they are not legally trained, qualified or regulated in the same way as solicitors such as Ashworth Law.
Disputes over Wills are ever more common – indeed a recent survey indicated that one in ten people have been involved in a dispute over a will. It important to make the right choice as to who prepares your will. If you’d like to speak to one of our experts about your will, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.