What Is a Will?
Don t leave your wife and kids with additional worry and complications.
People who pass away without a valid will, or intestate, leave complications and costs to their loved ones and often gift lots of money to the Nation in what may be avoidable Inheritance Tax (IHT).
The Law Society says that anyone with assets and family or friends should make a will, irrespective of their years. It is especially 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 partner under the rules of survivorship. Under the current intestacy rules, an unmarried partner has no rights to property that were not jointly owned (although the Law Commission has lately proposed to change this).
Affecting a will is also critical if you have children, as you can appoint guardians to care for them.
It is vital to produce a list of assets and liabilities and their approximate worth. Include your property, investments, nest egg, insurance policies and pension.
In addition, consider making specific bequests. Simply telling a beneficiary that an item will be his or hers one day could cause problems later.
You should receive professional advice on inheritance tax planning as part of writing your will. Easy steps could save the beneficiaries of richer homeowners thousands of £’s in taxation.
A vital factor of affecting a will is the naming of executors to ensure that your will instructions are carried out.
You should also your will every five years or so and whenever your circumstances are changed by a significant life event, such as marriage, split up or a birth or death in the close family. Another instance would be after a house purchase or move.
Whoever prepares up your will, make sure at least 1 copy is kept secure or deposit 1 with a probate registry.
Consilium Asset Management provide inheritance tax planning advice in Wiltshire
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