How Do I Make a Will?
Don t leave your loved ones with extra expense and hassle.
Individuals who die without an up to date will, or intestate, leave costs and worry to their loved ones and often gift thousands of £’s to the State in what may be avoidable Inheritance Tax (IHT).
The Law Society says that anyone with possessions and family or friends should make a will, no matter of their age. It is particularly important if you are not married to your partner, because the law does not accord partners the same automatic rights of inheritance as spouses.
Assets which are owned jointly by unmarried partners on a joint tenancy basis would still pass automatically to the surviving spouse under the rules of survivorship. Under the current intestacy rules, an unmarried partner has no rights to any assets that were not jointly owned (although the Law Commission has recently suggested to change this).
Making a will is also critical if you have kids, as you can nominate guardians to care for them.
It is critical to create a list of assets and liabilities and their approximate worth. Include your properties, investments, savings, insurance policies and pension.
In addition, consider details of specific legacies. Merely informing a beneficiary that an item will be his or hers one day could cause problems later.
You should obtain professional advice on inheritance tax planning as part of writing your will. Easy steps could save the beneficiaries of more well-off homeowners thousands of £’s in taxation.
An essential factor of preparing a will is the appointment of executors to ensure that your will wishes are executed.
You should also review your will every five years or so and whenever your circumstances are changed by a profound life event, such as wedding, split up or a birth or death in the close family. Another example would be after a house buy or move.
Whoever draws up your will, make sure at least one copy is kept secure or deposit 1 with a probate registry.
Consilium provide inheritance tax planning advice in Somerset