Why Do I Need a Will?
03/05/2010
Don t leave your family and children with extra worry and hassle.
Individuals who pass away without an up to date will, or intestate, leave costs and complications to their family and often gift thousands of pounds to the Country in what may be avoidable Inheritance Tax (IHT).
The Law Society says that anyone with possessions and family or friends should make a will, irrespective of their age. It is specially 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 jointly owned 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 property or assets that were not jointly owned (although the Law Commission has lately suggested to change this).
Making a will is also critical if you have children, as you can propose guardians to care for them.
It is vital to create a list of assets and liabilities and their approximate values. Include your property, investment, savings, insurance policies and pensions.
In addition, consider making single legacies. Simply telling a relative that an item will be his or hers one day could cause problems later.
You should get professional advice on inheritance tax planning as part of writing your will. Easy steps could save the beneficiaries of more well-to-do homeowners thousands of pounds in taxation.
A key factor of creating a will is the naming of executors to make sure that your will instructions are executed.
You should also update your will every 5 years or so and whenever your situation are altered by a profound life event, such as marriage, divorce or a birth or death in the immediate family. Another example would be after a house purchase or move.
Whoever constructs up your will, make sure at least 1 copy is kept safe or deposit one with a probate registry.
Consilium Asset Management LTD offer will writing services in Bristol

