MAKE A WILL BUT AT WHAT PRICE?
There used to be a slogan that “Making a Will won’t kill you”.
The whole point of making a Will is to make sure that you decide who receives the assets within your estate so it does not fall under the intestacy rules or leave you with unnecessary inheritance tax implications
However, who you choose to prepare your Will might have consequences that do not coincide with your intentions, warns Maxwell Hodge Solicitors.
Recently there have been situations where people have died and their loved ones produce the Will only to find that the gifts are invalid, as the Will has not been properly drafted.
There are many advertisements in newspapers of companies who advertise as “Will writing companies” but,
a) who regulates them?
b) what happens to the Wills they store if they go out of business?
c) what qualifications do they have?
d) are they insured if they are negligent?
You will often find that their Wills are “kitchen sink” i.e. include everything just in case something is missed, but it is by using that method that errors are made and gifts are then invalid.
As a firm of solicitors, we are governed by the Law Society and are covered by insurance, and at Maxwell Hodge we specialise in this area of work. Our Wills are specific to each client’s individual circumstances and tailored to their requirements.
It is therefore vital that proper advice is sought from solicitors to guarantee that your assets are left to those you love and they won’t experience disappointment after you have died because the Will has not been drafted correctly.
Our Lifetime Planning department offers specialist advice regarding wills, inheritance tax planning, applications for probate and administration, lasting powers of attorney, registration of enduring powers of attorney, and care home advice.
If you would like to make an appointment to make a Will or for advice regarding a Will that you have already had drawn up, or any other legal advice.
Denise Scoular - 2008.
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