Wills written Slough, Guildford, Reading, Oxford, Portsmouth

Tel: 0845 450 2110

Why Make A Will?

Email: Wills Plus

· Do you have children under 18?
It’s difficult, but essential, to face the possibility that young children could be left without parents. If you don’t decide in a Will who will look after them by appointing guardians, then social services and courts will decide for you. Be aware that an unmarried father may not automatically become guardian to his own children unless nominated in a Will.

Are you living with a partner and not married?
Your partner is not automatically entitled to anything from your estate. They have to go to court and fight for a share.

Do you think that your spouse will inherit everything automatically?

Not necessarily! If you do not have children, but have blood relatives alive, your spouse is only entitled to £200,00 from your estate. If you have children, your spouse is entitled to £125,000 and interest only on half of the rest.

Have you considered Inheritance Tax?

For an un-married couple, there will be a tax bill when the second of you dies if your combined estate is worth over £312,000. Everything over this amount is taxed at 40%. By having your Will correctly drafted, you could save as much as £124,800 in tax for your children or other beneficiaries.

Do you want to protect the value of your home?

Sadly, we hear all too often of cases where the value of a house has been used to pay for residential care fees, leaving nothing for the family. Surviving spouses or partners could change their Will to disinherit your children. Correctly drafting your Will can alleviate this problem.

Are you recently divorced or about to be divorced?

Divorce does not revoke an existing Will. Whilst a Decree Absolute means that your former spouse will be treated as having predeceased you, all other terms of your Will still operate, including gifts to his or her family that you may no longer wish to make. Until your Decree Absolute your spouse benefits, as you are still married.

Do you have a Will and are you about to marry or have a Civil Partnership?

Unless your Will was written in contemplation of your marriage or civil partnership, any existing Will is automatically revoked.

Do you want to make sure that someone does not benefit from your estate?

The Laws of Intestacy could mean that “the last person on earth” that you would want to benefit, could benefit from your estate. Writing your Will is the best way to achieve your wishes. Click on Intestacy to view a chart showing how an estate without a will is disbursed.

Do you own a business?

How will you utilise the value of your business to protect your family and possibly to save inheritance tax? Best use of Business assets may be achieved by correctly drafting your “Personal Will” in conjunction with a “Business Will”.

Are you worried about what will happen to your pet?

Treasured family pets can be provided for in your Will. You can appoint carers or make a legacy to provide for their needs.

Do you want to make a gift to a friend, to a charity or to a favourite club?

Writing your Will is the only way to achieve your wishes.

Do you own an investment property with friends or relatives?

The wrong type of ownership could result in it passing to your friends or relatives rather than to your spouse or children. Having a Will written acts as a check and, if necessary, the situation can be corrected to ensure that your share of the property passes to those that you have chosen.

Are there family heirlooms that you need to protect?

Writing your Will is the only way to achieve your wishes.

Don’t leave it to chance…