Your Wills
Living Will
The Living Will is a document in which you may indicate what medical care you wish to receive or not to receive should a time come; when you can no longer express your views personally.
The Living Will bears the same weight as the Last Will & Testament. It is an important document for those who wish to continue taking responsibility for their wellbeing – even when they themselves can no longer communicate it.
Last Will Testament
Why it is important to make a Will?
It is important for you to make a will whether or not you consider yourself to have many possessions or much money. It is important to make a will because:
- If you die without a will, there are certain rules which dictate how the money, or possessions should be allocated. This may not be the way that you would have wished your money and possessions to be distributed
- Unmarried partners and partners who have not registered a civil partnership may not automatically inherit from each other unless there is a will, so the death of one partner may create serious financial problems for the remaining partner
- If you have children, you will need to make a will so that arrangements for guardians for the children can be made if either one or both parents die
- It may be possible to reduce the amount of tax payable on the inheritance if advice is taken in advance and a will is made
- If your circumstances have changed, it is important that you make a will to ensure that your money and possessions are distributed according to your wishes. For example, if you have separated and your ex-partner now lives with someone else, you may want to change your will. If you are married or entered into a registered civil partnership, this may make any previous will you have made invalid.
In summary, having a Will
- Enables you to decide who inherits what and how much
- Provides for clarity on Inheritance Tax
- Enables you to appoint legal guardians for your children
- Enables you to set up trusts for your children in the event you die before they reach the age of maturity
- Allows you to plan for your funeral
- Allows you to appoint executors who can also be your trustees, though not necessarily the guardians of your children
- May prevent claims from previous partners against your estate
Further information
We recommend you contact your own Solicitor for further information.