Why I Need A Last Will and Testament - Some Facts About Wills and why you need to make a Will.

* Every individual over the age of 18 should have a Will, whether they are rich or poor, male or female, single or married. Here are some of the reasons why:

* A family can suffer acute financial hardship because of the delays in dealing with the estate of a person who has no Will. These delays can often run into YEARS!

*Thousands of small heirlooms and treasures are lost to the auction rooms every year because no one can decide who should have them. Your WILL protects your heritage.

*Banks, Building Societies and Insurance Companies hold millions of pounds belonging to people who are almost certainly dead - because their families are not aware that the money exists, or where it is. A part of our service will be to offer you safe storage of your WILL where it can always be found.

*Family arguments arise over who should get personal belongings and what type of funeral should be arranged. It is unfair to thrust these decisions upon a grieving family.

* Millions of pounds are unnecessarily paid in inheritance tax (death duties) because a Last Will & Testament has not been drawn up.

* .Hospitals lose the opportunity to make use of valuable organs for transplant because no one is sure of the wishes of the deceased person.

. * Most people would rather their money went to a charity than to the taxman if they have no one to leave it to. This can only happen through a Will.

* The estate of any person who died as a result of an accident can benefit from a substantial court or insurance claim, much (or all) of which could go to the wrong people where there is no Will.

*Many people think their immediate family will get all they own anyway should they die without a Will. This is not necessarily the case.

* .A Will should be reviewed every few years. Even if you have a Will it could now be invalid or unsuitable if it was made a number of years ago or your circumstances (marriage etc) have changed. A part of our service will be to remind you to review your Will every few years.

* The absence of a Will causes many problems for family & friends - at the worst possible time. It often creates financial hardship and sometimes the loss of money to your dependents who need it most.

* So you can state who you wnat to be the executor and beneficiaries rather than the state deciding.

* A few pounds and one hour is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that proper organisation on this part of your personal estate will give you.

A number of leaflets are available
Simply email your request

Intestacy in England and Wales

Dying without leaving a Will could mean...

In the absence of a signed Will the government dictates who gets what of your estate, depending on your domestic circumstances:


Married with Children (separated people are treated under these rules as still being married)

1) Your spouse gets:

a) car and house contents, plus
b) first £125,000 of your estate, plus
c) 6% interest on half of any surplus (only interest, your spouse cannot touch the capital)

2) Your children (stepchildren get nothing) get:

a) half of any excess over £125,000 outright, plus
b) the other half of the excess when your spouse has also died

Married with No Children but with Parents and/or Brothers and Sisters

1) Your spouse gets:

a) car and house contents, plus
b) first £200,000 of your estate, plus
c) half of any excess over £200,000 outright

2) Your parents or (if none alive) your brothers and sisters get:

a) Balance i.e. half of any excess over £200,000 outright

Married with No children and No Parents or Brothers and Sisters

Your spouse gets everything

Single, Widowed or Divorced (but not separated)

Everything goes to your children (if any), otherwise to your parents (if alive), otherwise to your brothers and sisters (or their children), otherwise your grandparents (if alive), otherwise your uncles and aunts (or their children), otherwise to the government

Top

Home