Should I Make a Will?
Don t leave your wife and kids with additional heartache and complications.
Individuals who pass away without a valid will, or intestate, result in costs and worry to their loved ones and often gift thousands of £’s to the Nation in what may be avoidable Inheritance Tax (IHT).
The Law Society says that anyone with assets and family or friends should make a will, disregarding of their age. It is specially important if you are not married to your partner, because the law does not accord partners the same rights automatically of inheritance as spouses.
Property that is owned jointly by unmarried partners on a joint tenancy basis would still go to automatically to the existing partner under the rules of survivorship. Under the current intestacy rules, an unmarried partner has no rights to property or assets that were not jointly held (although the Law Commission has lately suggested to change this).
Making a will is also critical if you have children, as you can nominate guardians to care for them.
It is important to produce a list of investments, propert and debts and their approximate worth. Include your property, investments, nest egg, insurance policies and pension.
In addition, think about individual legacies. Merely informing a family member that an item will be his or hers one day could cause trouble later.
You should get professional advice on IHT planning as part of writing your will. Easy steps could save the beneficiaries of more well-to-do homeowners thousands of pounds in taxation.
An important element of establishing a will is the appointment of executors to ensure that your will instructions are carried out correctly.
You should also review your will every 5 years or so and whenever your circumstances are altered by a profound life event, such as marriage, split up or a birth or death in the immediate family. Another instance would be after a house buy or move.
Whoever draws up your will, make sure one copy is kept secure or deposit one with a probate registry.
Consilium Asset Management provide will writing services in Bristol