What goes into a Will?

When preparing to see a solicitor about your Will, a little bit of preparation can go a long way. Here are a few things to consider before your appointment.

Why are you making a Will?

Why are you making this Will? Perhaps it is to reflect your new circumstances following a marriage or divorce? Perhaps it is to protect your children in the event that your spouse remarries? Perhaps you have a vulnerable person in your life that you want to take care of? Or even so that certain people don’t inherit from your estate?

There are endless reasons people want to make a Will.

The reason is important to the solicitor as they can tailor the Will around your needs. They can advise you as to whether a trust would be beneficial, and how that would work in practice. They can help you take steps to reduce any risk of a claim being made against your estate. Whatever your reasons, your solicitor will want to know.

What do you have to leave in your Will?

What do you have to give away? It may be that you have your family home and some savings. Or it might be a number of investment properties and a portfolio of stocks and shares. Either way, what you have to give away is important information for your solicitor.

Firstly, it is essential for calculating any inheritance tax issues your estate may face. It will allow the solicitor to advise on what exemptions you may be entitled to. Secondly, it will give a good idea of how to proportion any gifts. In the future, your estate may be quite different. Care fees may reduce it significantly, or an inheritance from a parent may increase it. But it is still important to know what you have available to give away.

Who receives your estate?

Who matters to you? Who is important enough in your life to feature in your Will?

There are a number of roles to fill within your Will. For instance, your executors are those people responsible for administering your estate. They should therefore be someone you trust, and someone you think would be able to handle that responsibility. Parents should consider who would look after your children if you were no longer around (guardians).

It is helpful to have a list of names and addresses of people you want to be mentioned in your Will.

What next?

To discuss your requirements, and to book an initial consultation, contact one of our expert solicitors in our Wills and Probate team on 01270 625478. Alternatively you can visit our wills and probate services page here or complete the form linked here and we will call you back.