It is important that you make a Will so that you can ensure that your estate passes to the people that you want it to. Without a Will your estate will pass in accordance with the laws of intestacy. This will mean that an unmarried partner or step-children will not benefit and, depending on the value of your estate, your spouse might not inherit your entire estate.
People often ask us why they should use a legal professional to prepare their Will rather than write their own Will at home or online. At Jackson Lees we do not just advise on the aspects of Wills, we also advise on the more complex issues that can arise when making a Will. When you arrange an appointment with us, we talk to you about your wishes and provide you with advice that is tailored to your circumstances to make sure your Will is right for you.
Making a Will is only part of the overall process of estate planning and a legal professional will discuss a number of things with you that you may not have thought about or be aware of. Did you know that if you have a life assurance policy this can form part of your estate and increase its value thereby attracting possible inheritance tax liabilities? You could consider placing the policy into a trust and this is something one of our advisers would be happy to discuss with you.
Did you know that there are a number of reliefs and exemptions from inheritance tax? Are you aware of the current thresholds before inheritance tax becomes payable? We can provide you with advice regarding how much inheritance tax may be payable on your estate and we can suggest ways to potentially reduce the amount payable.
Do you know what will happen to your pension in the event of your death? Have you appointed the correct number of executors? Is your Will complex and involving children? So many small details can be incorrect when writing your own Will at home which can make your Will invalid, and the time spent writing it up only for your estate to fall into the rules of intestacy could’ve been used speaking to a legal expert who knows exactly what they’re doing, giving you peace of mind.
When coming to Jackson Lees to write a will, you can be confident that there are no mistakes and your Will will be safely stored and protected. We have a specialist team of solicitors and advisers who can help you with making a Will. If you would like any more advice regarding Wills and Trusts or would like to speak to one of our specialist advisers, please click here for a call back or message us your enquiry.