Married people
Did you know that if your spouse dies without a Will, you may not inherit the entire estate. It is irrelevant how long you have been married – the rules are set in stone and can be harsh.
For example, if the estate, excluding the personal possessions is valued at £570K the spouse will only be automatically entitled to the sum of £420K. This is all very well if the children are your own but what if it is a second marriage and they don’t approve of you? Do this leave you with enough? i
Worse still, if you don’t own your home as joint tenants you do not automatically inherit the marital home. Is your share in the estate sufficient for you to be allowed to remain in your home?
A carefully drafted Will, on the other hand, could give you a life interest in the property, or enough money to keep you in comfort for the rest of your life.
Single people
Did you know that if you are single with no children and die without making a Will then your parents will inherit your estate when you die.
Most people assume that their siblings will inherit. This is simply not true. The estate passes to the parents first. This may very well reflect your wishes but what if your parents are elderly or liable for paying for their own care?
Contested Wills
Christmas is a time of time of peace, joy, cheer, and good food. It can also be the time for family feuds.
If you have fallen out with a child, or anyone else who might expect to inherit when you die, it is important that you take extra steps when making a Will to ensure that your wishes are honoured when the time comes. This is because the disappointed beneficiary may either contest your Will when you die or lodge a claim against the estate
We are specialists in assisting people make Wills that could be contested as well as dealing with contested estates. Michele Henderson is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has considerable experience in helping people make Wills. Joanna Connolly is a solicitor advocate who can fight your corner when the time comes. Whilst we cannot stop disappointed beneficiary from taking action we can eliminate his chances of success as far as possible.