Estate Planning Lawyers: Will Drafting
The wills and estate planning lawyers at Rollingsons Solicitors in London have expertise in all aspects of making a Will, from drafting a Will to advising you on whatever provisions you wish to make in the management of your estate, finance and assets.
There is a commonly held misconception that if you are married or in a civil partnership you do not need to make a Will, as everything you own passes to your spouse or partner when you die. This is not necessarily true.
If you die without a valid Will, the distribution of your assets is governed by a set of legal rules called intestacy. These rules may not reflect the way that you would have wished your assets to be distributed.
A properly drafted Will can achieve a number of potential benefits, including:
- Make your wishes known: Without a valid Will, distribution of assets will be according to the rules of intestacy — not according to your wishes.
- Provide for those you choose: If you are in a relationship and are not married or do not have a registered civil partnership, you cannot inherit your spouse's or partner's estate unless he or she had a valid Will in place. If one person in such a relationship dies without a Will, this can create serious financial problems for the surviving partner.
- Protect your children: If you have a child or children, a valid Will is necessary to make arrangements for the children should the parents die. It is extremely important to have a Will in place if the children are under 18 and would need somebody to look after their inheritance or to have a guardian appointed for them.
- Reduce inheritance tax: You may also be available to reduce the amount of inheritance tax (IHT) your estate will pay following your death if you take advice and make a Will.
- Protect your estate from being contested: There has been a significant rise in claims being made against the estates of people who have died. The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 allows certain individuals to make a claim for provision from a person's estate, even if that person never intended to leave that individual any money or assets. By seeking legal advice and making a Will you could significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful claim being made.
Wills can also provide for charities, avoid family disputes and document funeral arrangements. Making a Will need not be time consuming or costly, and we have made available for you a simple Will questionnaire which you can fill in by hand or online in order to speed up the process.
Contact Our London Will-Drafting Solicitors
There is no fee to discuss your legal issue with one of our firm's experienced UK solicitors. To arrange your free initial consultation, please call 080 8159 5251 or contact Neil Acheson-Gray, Head of the Department, electronically.
