Will your money, property, investments and possessions go to the people you care most about?
“Do I need a will?”, “Who needs to have a will in place?”, “When should I put a will in place?”
These are common questions we frequently hear and see about wills, but it often boils down to one misconception – that wills are only something that a small group of people need to have in place at a specific time.
The reality is different.
Everyone needs to have a will in place, is the short answer.
Why does everyone need to have a Will in place?
If you don’t have a will in place, something known as ‘dying intestate’ will occur, meaning that the Government’s Will Template would automatically apply to you.
That means that, in short, your estate might not go to those you want it to.
For example, if you have a partner that you aren’t in a civil partnership with or married to, they have no automatic right to inherit from you if you haven’t made a will (even if you have children or have lived together for a long time).
Remember that your estate is made up of everything you own:
Property
Vehicles
Savings
Investments
Jewellery
Artwork
Family heirlooms
Your will also applies to any money you have tied up in insurance policies, trusts, bonds and pensions.
And with all of that in mind, we don’t think it’s a stretch to say your will is absolutely integral in protecting your interests and your loved ones.
Talk to us about your Will
Get peace of mind and craft your legacy with care
It’s not just how you want your estate to be distributed, but to who and by who.
Your will requires an executor (or executors) who will be legally responsible for dealing with your estate after your death.
Choosing your executor carefully streamlines the process of handling your estate and makes it easier for your loved ones.
Otherwise, the distribution of your assets could be handled in a potentially contentious court process that can quickly become overcomplicated.
That’s the last thing you want, and we can help!
What are your options?
There are two types of basic will – a single will and a mirror will.
SINGLE WILL
A single Will, as the name suggests, is written by and designed for a single, unmarried person.
It allows you to name specific individuals or charities you want to leave your assets to after you die, and importantly, how you intend to split your things amongst them.
If you have children, a single Will also allow you to specify:
Who you would want to look after any children you have (under the age of 18)
The individual responsible for protecting any inheritance you leave for these children.
MIRROR WILL
If you’re married, in a civil partnership or part of an unmarried couple, a mirror Will is likely the best option for you.
In other words, one Will ‘mirrors’ the other!
For couples that have similar ideas about what to include in their wills, a mirror will is ideal because they are two separate legal documents with almost identical content.
As with a single Will, you’re able to set out your wishes for:
Your estate
But the emphasis is on each partner having a clear outline of their wishes that are aligned with each other.
SINGLE WILL
A Single Will is designed for a single, unmarried person.
MIRROR WILL
A Mirror Will is one of a pair of Wills commonly used for a married, civil partnership or co-habiting couple who wish to leave everything to each other, ie. one will "mirrors" the other.
Get started with your will (with a helping hand)
We can work with you to put your requirements into a draft will, which you can fully approve before we generate a fully printed and bound copy that will be forwarded to you.
In this copy, you’ll find full instructions on how your will should be signed in the presence of witnesses.
We believe in affordable wills because everyone should have one, which is why each will only costs £125.
Need a Will fast? We can turn around your will within 48 hours (subject to postal service).
Here’s how you can get started:
Fill out the form below or schedule a call
Have a chat with us or get started by completing a Will instruction form
Return this form
Your draft document will be generated for your approval
We can work through any details required on a Zoom meeting or call if necessary, and we’ll be on hand to support you with any steps you’re struggling with.
GET IN TOUCH TODAY
Give us a call on 0333 240 0851, submit and enquiry below, or pop in & see us, the kettle is always on!
Robert Shaw & Company
181 Church Road, Yardley, Birmingham B25 8UR Tel: 0333 240 0851 (local call rate)
Email: wills@robertshawandco.co.uk
Call us: 0333 240 0851
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