Saturday, May 30

Must preparing wills before parents die


 

 

More than anyone else, parents and grandparents should avoid the pitfalls of not preparing a will.

It’s a shocking statistic, but around 27 million adults in the UK have failed to prepare a will*.

This can have serious consequences, especially if you’re a parent. Dying without a will means the law will simply run its course, and often again your wishes.

It’s a huge risk that can leave you powerless over your assets.

Why A Professional Will Is Essential:

The technical term for passing away with no valid will is ‘dying intestate’. If this happens your money, possessions and property will be divided up according to the law, and your loved ones could stand to inherit nothing.

For instance, if you are unmarried and die ‘intestate’, your partner would by law receive nothing. If you have children this can complicate things further, as the law often places them above your partner in the pecking order – and if you have children from a previous marriage they could be completely passed by too.

Put simply, dying without a will means you have no control over who stands to inherit your hard-earned assets. Even worse, if you pass away with no close relatives, this could pass automatically to the government, who claim millions of pounds from this every year.**

Luckily, there’s a simple solution.

…the cost of having a will drawn up is tiny when you consider the stress it avoids.

Professional wills are widely available for as little as £110

Writing a will can be tricky, however it’s now simpler and more affordable than ever to get a professional will drawn up– and with the minimum of fuss. Top will-writers now offer flexible home visits, advice on how to pay less inheritance tax, and prices from as little as £110.

If you are a parent, or you have specific wishes about where you want your assets to go, getting a professional will is a must. For the minor cost incurred, it can avoid enormous amounts of worry and hassle, and could also save £1000s in the long run by securing your assets.

And the sooner you plan ahead, the sooner you’ll get peace of mind.

The benefits of planning ahead:

1. Specify exactly who your benefactors are. Rather than letting the law decide, you can divide up your inheritance in whatever way you want.

2. Nominate your children’s guardians. If you have children under 18 and the worst does happen, you need to plan ahead for their future.

3. State who your executors are. Pick the person you trust will make sure your will is properly adhered to.

4. Set out your wishes for specific possessions. Many of us have treasured heirlooms or keepsakes – a well-written will lets you pass it on to the loved one it will mean the most to.

5. Write a joint will. It’s possible to write a combined will for you and your partner. Not only does this align your wishes with each other, it’s also possible to get excellent discounts.

6. Take advantage of low prices. A will is a one-off cost that can save £1000s in the long run by securing your assets. With increased competition, many will-writers are now offering up to £40 off for their services.

How Can I Get a Quote?

As with any industry, it pays to shop around for the best deals on will-writing. The Experts in Money online tool lets you compare will writers in your area with just a few quick questions, so you can put yourself in control of your assets today.

• Step 1 – Click your location on the map below to get your FREE quote.

• Step 2 – Once you answer a few simple questions, compare quotes near you to find the best deal.

Experts in Money’s online quote comparison tool makes it easy to see what you could save on will-writing and to get a quick quote