Wills
The Need For a Will
It is a fact that many people do not make a Will, thinking that their estate will pass automatically to the people they love.
Many people think that everything you own will pass to your spouse and then your children if you die without making a Will. Dying without writing a Will is referred to a dying "intestate"
If you die intestate; i.e. without making a will, other people will decide how your money and property will be distributed. Without a Will your wishes may not be carried out and close relatives, including your spouse, may not be adequately provided for.
The Cost of Making a Will
- A simple single will is £125 plus VAT.
- "mirror" Wills for a couple are £195 plus VAT.
All of our wills include free registration with Certainty - The National Will Register, so your executor and beneficiaries will always be able to find who is holding your will.
Home visits for elderly or infirm clients can be arranged at no extra cost in most circumstances.
What Happens If You Do Not Make a Will
When you do not make a will, your estate will be distributed in accordance with intestacy rules.
The intestacy rules for married couples
If you are married and your estate is worth less than £250,000
- Your entire estate goes to your surviving Spouse
If you are married and have children and your estate is worth more than £250,000
Your spouse will receive:
- Household contents and personal effects
- The first £250,000.00 of the estate; and life interest in half of the residue
Everything else goes to your children when they reach 18, or earlier if they marry, or to their children if they die first.
If you are married and have no children and your estate is worth more than £250,000
Your spouse will receive:
- Household contents and personal effects
- The first £450,000 of the estate and half of the residue
The other half of the residue goes to your parents, or if there are none, to your brothers and sisters of the whole blood or their children.
If there are none of the above, the half share goes to your spouse.
The intestacy rules for single persons or widow(er)s
If you are not married and you have children
- Your entire estate is divided between the children when they reach 18 (or on their marriage if they marry under 18) or to their children if they die first.
If you are not married and have no children
Your whole estate goes to:
- Your parents, or if none;
- Your brothers and sisters of the whole blood or their children; or if none;
- Your brothers and sisters of the half blood or their children; or if none;
- Your grandparents; or if none;
- Your uncles and aunts of the whole blood or their children; or if none;
- Your uncles and aunts of the half blood or their children; or if none;
- The Crown
Making a Will
When you make a Will, your money and assets will pass to whoever you choose as your beneficiaries. Writing a Will allows you to leave as much or as little as you like to anyone.
If you have an item you would like to make sure a friend receives after your death, making a Will allows this to happen. If you want to leave fixed amounts to children and the remainder of your estate to a charity, a Will allows you to do this.
Making a Will is a simple and inexpensive process that ensures you know where you money will go after your death.