Why should I make a will?

You may think that making a Will is not necessary because what you own will be fairly distributed on your death to those you would wish to benefit. This is not necessarily the case. There are strict rules governing what happens to your property when you die without a Will.

The potential consequences of not making a will

The following is a list of just a few of the problems that can arise……..

• Your husband or wife may not have enough money to live on

• The family home may need to be sold

• Distant relatives or even the Government may benefit from your estate

• Unmarried partners will receive nothing from your estate unless they pursue a possible claim through the Courts

• Your family may pay significantly more tax than is necessary

• If your husband or wife remarries your children may get nothing when he or she dies

• Your children may receive a large amount of money at the age of 18, an age you may think is too young to be able to handle such amounts in an appropriate way

• No charities close to your heart can benefit from your estate

• No guardians will have been appointed to look after your children

Action

To avoid potentially leaving your family with distressing financial problems at a time when they may be least able to cope with them, our advice is to make a Will. This will allow you to have complete control of your estate and provide for your family, relatives, friends and charities in the manner best suited to your circumstances.