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Wills

Making a will - our service Make a Will with Livingstons

Making a Will is the surest way anyone has of providing for others after their death. We are experienced not only in drawing up Wills but in advising on important related matters of law - inheritance laws, taxation, property matters or family problems. We can therefore provide the broadest professional legal advice when you want to make a Will.

Avoiding the pitfalls
Trying to make a Will alone can be full of pitfalls. Many words and terms have specific meanings in law which are different from their everyday use. Home-made Wills do not always mean what the writer thinks they do. And it is also important to ensure that a Will is correctly witnessed.

Sentimental belongings
You may want to be sure a certain heirloom - perhaps worth little financially - will be passed on to a particular person.

Inheritance tax
Few people intentionally leave money to the tax man. We can steer you through the intricacies of inheritance tax, helping you minimise the effects, and explaining the various exemptions and reliefs.

Leaving money to charity
Some people want any money ‘left over’ to go to charity. It is essential to be very specific about this in your Will or your intentions may not be carried out. (Leaving a sum to charity can also minimise tax liability.)

Everyone’s circumstances can change
You should make a Will every time your situation changes; if you get married, if you become a home owner, if you inherit money, or if your relationship breaks up. If you have already made a Will it is worth reviewing it with us every few years.

Executorship - our service
Your executor is the person who takes charge of administering your estate after death. It is important to specify in your Will who your executor is to prevent delays in money being released to your family at what may be a difficult time for them.

You may think you are not wealthy enough to make a Will. But if you stop to add up the value of your house, car, shares andinsurance policies - the total is probably more than you realised.

A Will is particularly important for anyone with children, especially if you are a separated or an unmarried parent. A Will is also necessary for anyone wanting to make provision for those other than their immediate family and for anyone concerned about tax consequences after death.

In certain cases, intestacy may not be a problem for those you leave behind. But all too often, leaving no Will could create yet another worry for your family at a time of bereavement. Making a Will is a way of making life easier for them.

We can draw up your Will and one or more of our Directors can act as your executor if you so wish. Banks also advertise their executor services, which may be appropriate in some circumstances - but bank charges for acting as executor are high and are not open to challenge or independent assessment in the same way as solicitors' fees.

Contact Simon Hollis or Deborah Yearnshire on 01229 585555

 

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