Nobody likes to think about what will happen when they’re gone, but if you die without leaving a Will, your dependants and relatives could be left vulnerable at what will already be a very difficult time.
Many people assume that their possessions will automatically be passed on to their spouses or partners if they have not made a Will, but this is not always the case.
Without a Will, your estate will be shared among your surviving relatives according to the rules of intestacy. However, this means your final wishes may not be carried out, with people you have lost contact with benefiting while those you were closer to could lose out.
The safest way to ensure your loved ones receive what is intended for them is to make a Will and then review it on a regular basis to check that it is up to date and takes into account any changes in legislation, such as inheritance tax law.
If a Will is not up to date and names beneficiaries who have already died, then it could be subject to partial intestacy, meaning those who are still alive could face delays in receiving what they are entitled to. To avoid such problems, it is always best to seek advice from our Wills and probate specialists, who can help you draw up a Will and then review it regularly to ensure it remains up to date. Also registering your Will with Certainty the National Will Register of which we are a member.
Our Wills, probate and tax partner, Frances White, a member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), is an expert in the following areas:
- Will drafting
- Wills to benefit people with disabilities
- Administration of estates and obtaining grants of representation (e.g. probate)
- Powers of attorney – lasting and general powers
- Court of Protection applications for incapable persons
- Matters concerning the elderly
- Trusts – creation and administration
- Tax advice
- Charity matters
- Foreign wedding declarations