Wills and Probate
ABM Solicitors are there to help you provide for your family’s future with wills and probate advice. We provide standard Will advice and drafting for a set fee - to find out more please contact us. As always we provide a fast and efficient service and are sensitive to your needs and understand the complexities of family life.
Our team provide property and financial advice and if necessary will liaise with other professionals including accountants and financial advisers to provide tax effective state planning.
What happens if you don’t make a will?
If you die not having made a will your estate will be divided in line with the intestacy rules. This is unlikely to be exactly what you would have wanted. This can mean that your partner does not receive what you would have hoped or children and grandchildren do not receive gifts at all. Also it may mean that more money goes to the taxman or even on occasion the whole estate.
Making a will also ensures that there is certainty and far less chance of there being family disputes. With a will in place you can name executors to deal with the process, you can name guardians to care for children. There is an opportunity to plan and make decisions to avoid a high tax burden and to ensure that you show your appreciation to more distant family members and friends. You can also ensure that you leave your partner in the best position. We are in the business of ensuring that your wishes are carried out.
Living Wills
Living wills or advance directives generally concern medical discretion. This enables you to define medical care issues that you may feel strongly about. If you fear there is a possibility that in the event of terminal illness you will not be able to communicate your wishes a living will can set out your preferences.
Sometimes our client’s preferences may conflict with the views of the medical profession, we can give you our advice on the best way to proceed.
Powers of Attorney
It may be that you are concerned that in later life you may be physically or mentally incapacitated so you may wish to put in place a power of attorney.
These are now known as Lasting Powers of Attorney and replace Enduring Powers of Attorney.
You can choose who manages your financial and personal affairs. There are certain safeguards that have been put in place by the Court of Protection to ensure that such decisions are carried out freely and in a fully informed manner. Any lasting power of attorney must be registered with the Court of Protection before your attorney can act. The attorney can deal with issues including medical care, where you live and how financial matters are dealt with. You can also set limits and make directions in connection with that medical treatment.
Probate
We at ABM Solicitors are used to dealing with the incredibly sensitive issues that follow upon the death of loved ones.
As an executor or close family member you will need to have guidance through the process of dealing with obtaining probate and putting the wishes set out in a Wll into effect, or perhaps, and a little more complicated, is dealing with the estate of a loved one who has not left a Will.
In this case you are required to obtain Letters of Administration to deal with the intestate estate. We are experts in guiding you through the process.
We can help you deal with and obtain the necessary legal documentation and put matters into effect and deal with any tax issues. We can also deal with transfers of property and also on occasion look at Deeds of Variation to avoid tax bills. We will deal with the process and support you throughout in a sensitive and compassionate manner ensuring the best outcomes and reducing stress at a very difficult time.
Call us now for an initial consultation.
