A complementary therapy web site may at first seem a strange place to find information or advice about writing a will and associated legal matters. Not so strange when you think about it though. How many people do you know who are always stressed about money or the lack of it ?
During the last few years I have had many clients mention that one of the major stress factors in their life was concern about what would happen should anything happen to them. The change in the law relating to nursing home care and people having to sell their homes to pay for it seems to have caused a great deal of stress to many. When we discussed this in more detail most said they had not made a will and were therefore very worried about what would happen to their estate if they died or were taken into care.
With this in mind I took time away from my therapy business to train as a professional Will Writer and Estate Planner. The training was very intensive and thorough and requires regular updating courses to keep abreast of current legislation. However I am now trained and insured as a professional Will Writer and Estate Planning Consultant. The work involved is a complete contrast to my work as a therapist but it does mean I can now offer professional advice to any clients who may ask for it.
My business website can be found at:
www.surreywillsandestateplanning.co.uk
In my experience anything that helps to remove uneccessary stress from your life must be a good thing.
Why do you need a Will?
Here are some of the reasons clients have said they were concerned about.
1. To save on inheritance tax when I die
2. To stop the council using my home to pay for care fees after I die if my spouse is taken in to care
3. To save a lot of trouble, expense and delay after I'm gone
4. To appoint a guardian to care for my young children
5. To make financial provision for my children's future welfare
6. My partner and I have separate children and I don't want mine to lose out
7. To make sure there are no arguments in the family
8. So my spouse's family don't get everything if we die together
9. We're unmarried and neither will get anything when the other dies
10. I don't want the government to decide who gets what
11. To prevent my home from being sold while someone still needs it
12. To make provision for my friends, favourite charities and/or pets
Did you know that only 3 out of 10 people have made a Will!
If you have not written your own Will, the Government effectively writes a Will for you!
The main reasons for making your Will is: Peace of Mind - You dictate to whom you want your estate to go - Easy to obtain Probate
With approximately 2,000 people dying every day in this country, it is a sobering thought. Many people will think about sorting out their finances but leave their affairs unresolved by not making a Will. It's only by making a Will that your financial wishes can be carried out, as well as other important aspects, such as who you would want to benefit from your Estate and also choosing the people you want to look after your children if you were not there for them. This is especially important if you are an unmarried parent or have children by another relationship.
If you do not make a Will the Government will make one for you!
Most of my clients have said that they know the importance of making their Will but for one reason or another never get around to it and one common phrase that is used is that they have nothing to leave, but the truth is we all have something to leave - maybe Peps, ISAs, Tessas or other Savings Accounts or even those long forgotten Premium Bonds you've had for years.
By making a Will you can also make provision to leave monies to a particular person or maybe your preferred charity.
There's also the subject of your house - do not just assume that on your death it will automatically go to your partner, in many cases it will, but if you are not married the chances are that it might not. Unfortunately, there will always be more heartache if you die without having written a Will.
By not making a Will you would almost certainly leave behind added problems for your loved ones at a time when they are least able to cope. The cost of sorting the problems out will almost certainly be more than if you had a Will in the first place. If a Will has not been made it could take anything from 4 months onward to gain Probate on your estate. This additional time just adds to the loss of loved ones.
In a fast moving and unpredictable world it makes sense to take a little time to plan for the future....whatever it may hold.
