Making a Will is all about exercising choice.
Drafting a Will is critically important, yet regardless, many individuals do not consider the task amongst their top priorities. The truth is, unless you make a Will there may be stress and legal issues for your loved ones when you pass away.
Our Wills solicitors have plenty of experience in helping clients to draft Wills to protect their wealth and the interests of their loved ones. We understand that the choices you need to make regarding your Will can be perplexing and can guarantee a smooth process that caters to your specific needs.
Failing to create a Will means that your estate will be administered according to intestacy rules. It is likely that these rules may not match your wishes and the needs of your loved ones, so this is not a risk you should run.
Contact our Wills Solicitors in the East of England, East Anglia and Yorkshire
For personal, practical advice on Wills and estate planning, get in touch with your local Ashtons Legal team in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Ipswich, Leeds or Norwich.
Alternatively, please fill in our online enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.
Our Wills Expertise
At Ashtons Legal, we can offer pragmatic and sympathetic legal assistance with all manner of Will matters, such as:
- Guidance and Advice on Making a Will
- Creating a Tax-efficient Will
- Will Disputes
Guidance and Advice on Making a Will
Our expert Wills solicitors can provide specialist legal guidance and advice on making a Will, helping you through what can be a tough decision-making process. We provide clear advice, whilst always attending to your needs and concerns, ensuring the very best options for your situation.
We can assist you throughout all stages of the Will creation process, such as:
- Supporting you to choose the right executors and beneficiaries and informing you about what these terms mean and the associated duties
- Help to plan how you will divide your assets, including giving portions of your estate to charity
- Reviewing your assets and providing advice on tax planning and other relevant financial procedures
- Assistance if a person is seeking to make a claim against the estate
Creating a Tax-efficient Will
The rules regarding Wills and taxes can be rather complicated, and unless you have the right legal advice, you may have to pay avoidable taxes on your estate.
Our Wills experts have extensive experience in assisting clients to ensure tax-efficient Wills. We can make sure that you don’t end up overpaying on tax so that your loved ones receive the maximum amount possible.
Will Disputes
Will disputes are rather common. When they arise it can be emotionally testing for everyone involved. Such disputes can arise for many different reasons, including:
- The Will was made by someone who may have lacked mental capacity
- The Will was not signed in the presence of two appropriate witnesses and therefore cannot be considered valid
- It is suspected that the Will executor is mishandling the estate
- Someone suspects that the person who made the Will was under undue influence, meaning that they were put under pressure by another party to include certain things in the content of their Will
If you need support with Will disputes, or you want to ensure that your Will is drafted according to the correct legal protocols, our experts can help.
Will FAQs
What do I Need to Think About When Making a Will?
When you’re creating a Will, there are plenty of things that you’ll need to think about. To begin with, you’ll need to assess the assets that you own and determine their value. Your estate will be made up of your savings, investments, properties and anything else you own.
You should consider who your chosen beneficiaries will be and how you will distribute your assets amongst them. It’s not necessary to share your entire state between your family, for example, you may like to leave parts of your estate to charity.
When you draft your Will, you should also choose at least one trusted person to act as your Will executor. It is your executor’s role to administer the estate on your death.
How Much Does it Cost to Make a Will?
The cost to make a Will depends on the situation. For instance, a straightforward Will involving a small number of assets and beneficiaries will take less time to create than a larger estate with more involved parties. The less time the Will takes to prepare, the less it will generally cost.
Our Wills solicitors will start by reviewing your assets and family circumstances. From here, we will be able to provide a clear idea of how long it will take to make your Will and the associated fees.
Do you Need a Solicitor to Make a Will?
It is technically possible to make a Will without a solicitor, however this is not advised. If you attempt to make a Will without adequate legal support, you or your loved ones may encounter various issues and setbacks.
Unless you fully understand what’s expected from the legal process, it could mean that you end up with a Will that is not legally valid. You may fail to plan for a scenario where a beneficiary passes away before you do. It’s also important to understand the impact of divorce on a Will or how other changes to your lifestyle may affect your Will.
What is the Role of a Will executor?
The Will executor takes care of estate administration once the individual has passed away. There are various tasks that an executor must perform, including:
- Registering the death
- Dividing the estate between the chosen beneficiaries
- Managing the estate accounts
- Making payments for any inheritance tax owed
- Arranging the deceased’s funeral
- Otherwise handling the deceased’s finances, for example, paying off debts or transferring parts of the estate to charity.
Why Choose Ashtons Legal Wills Solicitors?
Our legal team offers an empathetic, professional and friendly service, supporting clients with bespoke advice every step of the way. Our lawyers can assist with all Will-related matters while addressing your concerns and ensuring that you understand the relevant tasks and processes.
At Ashtons Legal, we always offer clients a primary fixed fee consultation and complete a follow up by providing a written report. Our Wills lawyers work hard to get to know our clients and their unique needs. Our flexible approach means that we can cater for the requirements of any family.
Our lawyers are always clear with our expenses, offering competitive prices including fixed fees where possible.
Contact our Wills Solicitors in the East of England, East Anglia and Yorkshire
For advice about our Wills services, please contact our local offices in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Ipswich, Leeds and Norwich.
Alternatively, please fill in our online enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.
