Wills
No one likes to contemplate their own death, or the death of their loved ones and this is why many people put off making a will. It is estimated that around one third of people in the UK die without having made a valid will. The advantages of making a will are numerous.
While it is easy to delay the preparation of a will, the benefits of having a professionally prepared will cannot be underestimated.
Although it is possible to make a will yourself, this is not advisable. There are numerous legal requirements which must be complied with in order to make a will valid. If these requirements are not fulfilled the validity of the will can be challenged and this can result in a lengthy and expensive process. In addition it can result in the will being considered unacceptable and this will result in your estate being dealt with by the laws of intestacy.
Seeking expert advice can also help you to minimise the portion of inheritance tax that is paid on your death.
By making a will you decide what happens to your property and possessions after your death. It is the only way you can ensure your estate is passed onto the people you wish. It also allows you to nominate a suitable person to deal with your affairs when you pass away, someone you know and trust.
Your will does not take effect until your death and therefore it is possible to make amendments to your will at any point in the future. In fact, it is strongly recommended that your will should be reviewed every few years or on any change of personal circumstances, for example, marriage in the family, children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews. Perhaps someone who is named in your will has passed away or you simply no longer wish to have them named as a beneficiary.
Making a Will is simple, inexpensive and not time consuming, yet the benefits of having a will are significant. Not only will you have peace of mind that it is the people who you have chosen that will both deal with and benefit from your estate, but also that your loved ones will not have the added stress and costs involved with dealing with an intestate estate. There are many problems associated with dying without a will.
We have 4 offices throughout Ayrshire which all have expertise in the preparation of Wills. Our offices are based in Saltcoats, West Kilbride, Irvine and Kilwinning and we have private client solicitors available to meet with you in all of our offices. If you wish to make a will in Ayrshire then Taylor & Henderson will provide expertise and friendly and efficient service. We are the largest law firm in North Ayrshire and we have helped many clients with the preparation of their wills.
If you would like advice on making a will contact Alistair Green, Martin McAllister, Sheila McCosh, Jacqui Taylor or Alison Murphy.