Decide who inherits your possessions, property and money

If you don't have a Will the government decides this for you and it's done according to some rather old rules called the Laws
of Intestacy which were drawn up in the 1920s. This means that your spouse (husband or wife) might end up sharing your
wealth with your children or parents. It also almost centainly means that your partner gets nothing at all if you are unmarried.
By having a Will you stipulate exactly how your Estate (all your possessions, assets) is distributed and in what proportions.
What's the point of accumulating it all over your lifetime, if someone else decides how it is given away? In doing this you
might also avoid unnecessary arguments and squabbles between family members or relatives.
Reduce the amount of money your Estate pays to the Taxman
A major benefit of a professionally drafted Will is the fact that it can significantly reduce or even eradicate your Inheritance
Tax bill - meaning that there is much more money to pass to those you care about. This is primarily done by establishing
Trusts which take advantage of the IHT Tax Free allowance that all people have (your Nil Rate Band).
You can also avoid funds being seized by local authorities should a partner require long term care.
Appoint Guardians for young Children
Nominating specific Guardians in your Will to look after young children is very important - and if you don't the authorities
will do so on your behalf. This is unlikely to coincide with your own wishes and may be hugely upsetting and disruptive for
your children.
It can also sometimes mean that a partner (if you are unmarried) does not automatically become Guardian to children, even
though they may be the father.
Set up Trusts for the benefit of children or to protect funds from being wasted
Setting up a Trust can have a number of significant benefits. Firstly it is a very good way to ensure that funds are not
inherited by a beneficiary when they are too young to make best use of them. Basic terms can be put in place to prevent the
beneficiary wasting the money or assets you have given them.
Establishing Trusts also allows you to make secure financial provision for mentally disabled or handicapped children.
Leave a legacy to Charity or make provision for a family pet
Writing your Will provides you with the opportunity to leave a legacy to your favourite Charitable organisation (this would be
free of tax) or make provision for the care of a much loved family pet, should no one be available to look after it.
Make provision for your funeral
You may have quite specific ideas about what you would like to happen when you die. First and foremost, do you wish to
be buried or cremated? Where you want your funeral to be held and do you want specific hymns to be sung and readings to
be given?

Why make a Will?
Please read this before meeting with our Consultant
In order for us to be able to draft your Will quickly and accurately it is essential that you provide us with the following
information including names, addresses and contact details where relevant:
Who do you want to act as Executor and Trustee?
These people will ensure that the instructions contained within your Will are carried out - so most important of all,
they need to be trustworthy and reliable. Theyll also need to have the time to carry out the sometimes lengthy and
onerous probate process. Its helpful if they can be close at hand too. Many couples will appoint their spouse, but there
should be at least one if not two alternatives. We recommend the appointment of a professional Executor such as The
Universal Trust Corporation (UTC). Not only can this avoid conflicts of interest (especially when acting as Trustee) it also
means that delays will not occur because a private Executor is unable or does not wish to act. Whoever you select, please
ask their permission first.
Notes
Choosing Guardians for your Children
Writing a Will is one of the only ways you can choose Guardians for your children. If you dont then the Law Courts will
select them for you and its unlikely that their choice will correspond with your own. So if you have children under the age
of 18 (or are thinking of starting a family) youll need to provide at least two names. Please obtain permission beforehand.
Notes
Your Funeral Wishes
It makes a great deal of sense to provide details of what you wish to happen to your body upon your death, although it is
not a requirement in your Will. Please think about whether you wish to be buried or cremated, include details of the
location and any other details you feel may be relevant. Please also take this opportunity to think about whether you would
like your organs to be donated on death - if so please arrange to carry the appropriate organ donor card.
Notes
Gifts
Please make a list of any specific gifts you wish to make in your Will e.g. jewellery, a car, furniture etc. and ensure that you
give an exact description so that there can be no confusion. Its also important to establish whether you own your house
as Tenants in Common or Joint Tenants (check with your mortgage provider). Also think about the unthinkable - should
all the beneficiaries in your Will die before you, who would inherit? Perhaps you may wish to name a Charitable body?
Notes
Important information to prepare
before your meeting
Storage
Please dont go to the trouble of drafting your Will only to throw it in a drawer or under the stairs. Its a vitally
important document and may become invalid or damaged - so have a think about somewhere safe to keep it. We have a
secure storage facility should you require it, which comes with some fantastic additional extras - please ask your consultant
for details.
Other important information to prepare
It would be extremely helpful when taking your Will Instruction if you could also prepare the following:
1. List and estimate the value of all the assets in your Estate. This should include all property such as your home and its
contents, any business interests, investments, insurance policies, overseas properties, pension rights etc;
2. Think about who should initially inherit the majority of your Estate and also the order of succession;
3. Consider the consequences if any of your beneficiaries were to die before you and any alternative instructions that
should therefore be included;
4. Try to ascertain the FULL names and addresses of all those mentioned in your Will, including postcodes.
Points to consider
So that we can give you the best advice possible in light of your specific situation and concerns, please complete the
following section before your meeting. If you have any questions we can go through them face to face.
Is it important to me that:
My Executors and Trustees
should know exactly what their role will entail Yes No
should have access to professional help if required Yes No
will be able to easily locate my Will and other important documents
in the event of my death or disability
Yes No
My Will and other important documents are secure from fire, theft or damage
and cannot fall into the wrong hands
Yes No
I am concerned about:
Protecting my Childrens (or other beneficiaries) inheritance should my
Spouse or Partner remarry or enter into a new relationship after my death
Yes No
My house being sold by hostile creditors or to fund the costs associated
with infirmity in later life, at the expense of my family or friends
Yes No
The value of my insurance policies or investments being included in my Estate
and therefore increasing Inheritance Tax liability
Yes No
I want to:
Guarantee that if I become physically or mentally incapacitated, people I trust
will be legally empowered to manage my financial affairs
Yes No
Make a statement in advance regarding my medical treatment in case
I should be unable to communicate my wishes later
Yes No
Make sure that my Funeral is arranged in advance in accordance with my wishes Yes No
Ensure that anyone NOT named in my Will is unable to make a successful claim upon my Estate Yes No
Just Wills Plc, Medway House Cantelupe Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex. RH19 3BJ. Registered in England No: 2427464.
Reg office: 3 Bentinck Mews, London W1U 2AH. JW-WHY-05/06
Is your Estate
including your home
worth more than
125,000?
Are there any
children from your
marriage?
Are there any
parents?
Are there any
brothers, sisters,
nieces or nephews?
Spouse gets first
125,000 and life
interest in half the
remainder. Children
share the rest.
Are there any
children?*
Are there any
parents?
Are there any
brothers or
sisters?*
Are there any half-
brothers or
half-sisters?*
Are there any
grandparents?
Are there any aunts
or uncles (blood
relatives)?*
Estate passes
to Crown
Spouse inherits
whole Estate
Are you married?
If you arent then your
partner will receive nothing
Estate divided
equally between
children
Estate divided
equally between
parents
Estate divided
equally between
brothers and sisters
Estate divided
equally between
half-brothers and
half-sisters
Estate divided
equally between
grandparents
Estate divided
equally between
aunts and uncles
Spouse gets first
200,000 and half
the remainder.
Parents share the
rest.
Spouse gets first
200,000 and half
the remainder.
Brothers, sisters,
nephews, nieces
share the rest.
What happens if you dont have a Will?
The Laws of Intestacy
NO
NO NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES NO
* = If anyone in this category dies before
the deceased person and has children,
the children inherit the share which
would have gone to their parent.
Contacting us
Call 009714 311 6592
Or e-mail mohammad@[Link]