I’ve just taken the plunge and re-drafted my Will. It has only taken me a year to get around to it, but life seems to just, well, get in the way. What makes it even more unforgivable is that I am actually a Solicitor specialising in Wills, Probate and Tax Planning! But I can also easily understand why it can take such a long time for some clients to finally step through my office door.
There are many different life events which can prompt someone to make a Will. Some can traumatic, such as the loss of a loved one, marital breakdown, or an unfavourable medical diagnosis. Others are more positive such as marriage, the birth of a child/grandchildren or purchase of a property. Each of these situations has a myriad of other tasks which invariably need attention, and a drafting or amending a Will can get lost in the ‘noise’.
So, we know when we should put in place a Will and we know that if we don’t then the Intestacy Rules govern who shall receive monies and assets from our estate. These Rules are certainly not what most people would choose to do with their assets given an opportunity to sit down with a cup of tea and and make a Will.
So, I urge you to take the first stepping stone along the Will making pathway at Clifton Ingram and make it a New Year’s Resolution that you can keep – just contact our Wills, Probate and Trusts Team on 0118 9120262 and request our ‘Will Pack’ which provides you all the information you need regarding the Will making process and Codicils (an amendment to a previously executed Will).
Once you have reviewed the pack and filled in our handy Will Questionnaire which can help you get your thoughts in order, the next step is making an appointment at either our Reading or Wokingham offices. In that meeting you can discuss your requirements with one of our Team, who can also talk to you about associated matters such as Lasting Power of Attorney, Trusts if you wish. And then it’s done, ticked off the list, and you can relax knowing your wishes will be carried out and your loved ones looked after.
So I’ll leave you and wish you all the best for 2018, and good luck checking 'Wills' off your resolutions.
“The modern and forward-thinking team at Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors delivers an impressive standard of professionalism across the board. The firm’s ethos of client care and developing individual relationships with clients makes it a firm for life” – Legal 500, 2017 Edition