WIlls and Probate Service
Wills and probate service in KEIGHLEY ILKLEY SKIPTON BRADFORD LEEDSCARMELINA'S FUNERAL
CARE'sensitive and compassionate funeral care with a woman's touch'
Funeral Packages from £998 plus cremation and doctors fees. 19-21 Otley Road,
Shipley,
Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD17 7DH - 24/7 assistance Call us on: 01274 598886Wills and probate service in KEIGHLEY ILKLEY SKIPTON BRADFORD LEEDS
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Our Services
Will Writing Service
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Do you need a will?
You must be aware it could leave behind big problems, possibly as severe as being unable to pay the bills as the bank's locked off the money. So, whatever your age, if you've assets, eg, a house, savings, or a business, and people or others you'd like to look after, consider making a will.
While thinking, talking and planning for death may feel uncomfortable, you need to consider how much worse the situation would be if you died or became incapacitated – through illness, accident, old age or emergency – without sorting it. Not making a will can cause months or years of grief for your loved ones.
There are many specific reasons for writing a will, including:
Children
If you have children or step-children under 18, you should choose who will look after them and ensure there are funds to help.
Unmarried couples
The law doesn't really recognise this, so don't expect anything to go to your partner if you don't make a will.
Divorced
You may want to update your will to include what happens to your assets if a previous partner remarries.
Pets
Decide what should happen to family pets.
Specific funeral plans
If you know what you want your funeral to be like, you can detail it so that your family doesn't have to make the decisions.
Property
'Joint tenant' mortgages automatically pass to the other owner. If you've a 'tenants in common' mortgage, it's important to say what happens to your share of the house. If you own a property overseas, inheritance laws may be different to the UK.
Change in circumstances
Update your will when you marry, divorce or have kids.
Small businesses
If you're a sole director, it's possible that if you die without executors, nobody can authorise payments (including to staff), so your business could collapse.
What does a will do?
Writing a will has four main functions:
To name your executors
These are the people who'll look after the financial process when you die. Try to choose a responsible and trusted friend or relative, who can think clearly in a troubled time.
Alternatively some name a bank or solicitor, though they often charge monstrous fees (and can add themselves automatically), so make sure you only allow this if you've chosen it for yourself.
They're also the people who will sort out finances – such as paying off the mortgage and/or other debts out of your estate (see what happens to debts when you die).
One useful tip we've seen recently is to even include internet passwords in a separate document to accompany your will so that your executor has access to all of your online accounts.
Do remember though, you're under NO obligation to add the writer of your will as an executor, or in fact buy any additional services on top of the writing costs. Some may suggest this, or add it to your will as default, so check.
To distribute your estate
This is where you work out who you want your estate to go to. That means everything you own at the point you die, including your property, businesses, car, savings, investments, pension fund, life insurance, expensive jewellery, pets and more.
Be aware, though, you can't force people to take what you leave them. Whether it's a sofa, or a house in negative equity, they don't have to take it. If a person disclaims a bequest, it goes in with the residue of the estate. This is dealt with under the residuary clause in the will.
To provide for any surviving children aged under 18
If you die, responsibility for your children automatically goes to anyone else with ‘parental responsibility’.
People with dependent children should make a will to name a guardian(s) for their children, and also to allocate funds to ensure they're financially supported while growing up (though another signed, witnessed written document will suffice).
If you don't make a will, and there is no one else with parental responsibility, the courts will decide what happens to your child in the event of your death.
To mitigate inheritance tax
If you die intestate (without a will) there are strict laws about to whom and how your estate is distributed. This causes two problems. First, the money may not go where you want, and secondly, it's likely to be inefficient for inheritance tax purposes.
The law says you pay 40% of any assets worth over £325,000 that you leave, so those with valuable houses or larger estates could pay a fortune. Yet there are many legal ways you can plan ahead to reduce this.
Wills are legal documents, and as small errors can cause big problems, it's preferable to have someone legally qualified draft it for you.
If you've complicated affairs and a will-writing expert is your prime concern, then looking for recommendations and the reputation of individual will writers or solicitors is the best bet.
We recommend an accredited company who will look after all your needs, Most people want to discuss their requirements personally, face to face, with a specialist who can give their advice on the options available. They will come to visit you in your own home at no additional cost, at a time to suit you. They will talk you through the various options available to you once you decide to make a Will.
Home visits are offered under no obligation to yourself, and there is no initial fee charge; you will only get charged for services following the consultation, and there will never be any hidden costs.
What do I get?
A home visit by a legal consultant
Advice tailored to your needs
A high quality, tamper-proof Will prepared by a legal professional
A thorough explanation of all texts
Guidance as to how to sign and witness your Will
Free telephone helpline
Option for supervised execution of your Will