Benefits of Making a Will
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Don t leave your beneficiaries with extra heartache and complications.
Individuals who pass away without a valid will, or intestate, leave costs and worry to their families and often gift lots of money to the State in what may be avoidable Inheritance Tax (IHT).
The Law Society says that anyone with assets and family or friends should make a will, regardless of their age. It is specially important if you are not married to your partner, because the law does not give partners the same automatic rights of inheritance as spouses.
Property that is owned jointly by unmarried partners on a joint tenancy basis would still pass automatically to the existing partner under the rules of survivorship. Under the current intestacy rules, an unmarried partner has no rights to property that were not jointly held (although the Law Commission has lately suggested to change this).
Doing a will is also vital if you have minors, as you can propose guardians to care for them.
It is critical to create a list of investments, property and debts and their approximate values. Include your house, investment, nest egg, insurance policies and pension.
In addition, think about specific bequests. Merely telling a relative that an item will be his or hers one day could cause difficulty later.
You should get professional advice on IHT planning as part of writing your will. Easy measures could save the beneficiaries of richer homeowners thousands of £’s in tax.
An essential element of building a will is the appointment of executors to make sure that your will instructions are executed.
You should also update your will every five years or so and whenever your situation are changed by a profound life event, such as wedding, divorce or a birth or death in the close family. Another instance would be after a house buy or move.
Whoever draws up your will, make sure more than 1 copy is kept safe or deposit one with a probate registry.
Consilium Asset Management supply inheritance tax planning advice in Bristol