Susanne White Private Client Solicitor
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Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm
Appointments outside of these hours are available on request
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Wills
Many people I speak with find it challenging to make a Will as it can raise some difficult questions.
What happens if I don’t make a Will?
If you die without making a Will the law sets out who will deal with the distribution of your property, personal belongings and money (your estate). These rules known as the intestacy rules will also dictate who will inherit your estate.
The intestacy rules can be complex particularly if you are not married or entered a civil partnership. In a worst-case scenario, your estate could pass to beneficiaries who you would not ordinarily wish to inherit. I have dealt with estates in the past where beneficiaries have received funds from a relative, they never knew existed.
The Importance of making a Will
A professionally drafted Will means that you can get on with living your life in the knowledge your affairs are in order. I have over two decades worth of technical knowledge and experience creating comprehensive Wills which reflect the wishes of my clients. I have prepared thousands of Wills over the course of my career and there are very few situations I have not seen before.
I understand the process may seem daunting; however, I will be able to answer any questions you may have and offer sensible solutions to a range of different scenarios. Crucially with my assistance you will be able to control who your assets are passed down to after death.
Process of making a Will
If you are instructing me to prepare your Will then, broadly speaking, the process will be divided into three stages:
1. Taking instructions
The process will usually start with a meeting at your home at a time that is convenient for you. This initial meeting is helpful as it gives you the opportunity to provide me with details of your family and financial circumstances and allows me to provide legal guidance based on your individual circumstances.
2. Drafting the Will
Once I have advised you on the options, I will prepare a draft Will for you to review. I aim to send this to you within 5 working days of our initial meeting.
It is possible that some further calls, meetings or discussions may need to be had during the Will drafting process. For example, it may be advisable for you to have discussions with potential beneficiaries or those who may not benefit to reduce the possibilities of disputes later. Another example is where you have foreign property and some local law advice may need to be obtained to ensure all your assets are dealt with appropriately, or where you need to speak with potential executors of your Will to ensure they would be happy to act.
3. Signature and storage
Once you are happy with the draft Will, a final version is prepared for signature.
I can also provide recommendations for storage of the original Will if required.