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Making a Will is one of the most important things you will ever do. With a Will in place you can have peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be carried out and that you have provided for your loved ones.

Writing a Will and keeping it regularly updated gives you the control to ensure that your estate is inherited by the people you want to benefit. It helps avoid confusion and difficulties after your death and lets your loved ones know your preferences.

WHY MAKE A WILL?
  • To enable you to decide who benefits from your estate and who deals with your estate administration.
  • To advise your loved ones on your funeral wishes and provide reassurance and direction during a difficult time.
  • To make it easier for your loved ones by having your wishes laid out in a legally binding document.
  • To financially provide for a friend or partner who otherwise has no legal right to benefit from your estate if you die without including them in your Will.
  • To appoint guardians for your children and say who you would like to look after them if you die whilst they are minors (under the age of 18 in Wales).
  • To make a gift to your favourite charity or charities.
  • To avoid intestacy. If you die without a Will, you die intestate which means that the law determines who benefits from your estate and who has the right to deal with your estate. This does not automatically mean that everything goes to your spouse.
WHEN SHOULD YOU MAKE A WILL?

You can write a Will at any time but there are key points in your life when it becomes important to make or consider updating your Will.

  • Buying a house or property.
  • Moving in with a partner- unmarried couples do not have an automatic right to inherit their partner’s estate if they die without a Will.
  • Getting married- marriage automatically revokes an existing Will unless you state in your Will that it is in contemplation of your marriage and shouldn’t be revoked by it.
  • Getting divorced.
  • Coming into money.
  • Having a baby – consider who you would like to appoint as testamentary guardians for your child(ren) in the event of your death. You may also wish to ensure that your children do not inherit until they have reached a certain age.
  • Getting a job.
  • Retiring.

Choosing your Executors

Executors are responsible for carrying out the wishes expressed in your Will. You can have up to four Executors who can also be Beneficiaries (someone who benefits from your Will).

At least two Executors are needed if there is a Trust in your Will.

You can choose to appoint a friend, family member or a professional such as a solicitor or an accountant.

Reviewing an existing Will

At Vale Wills Ltd we strongly advise you to keep your Will under review. You should review your Will every five years and every time your circumstances change.

If you would like a review meeting with one of our experts we can discuss the contents of your Will with you and help you decide if it still meets your needs.

WHEN SHOULD YOU INCLUDE A TRUST IN YOUR WILL?

A Trust is an arrangement where assets including property, land, money, shares and expensive items such as jewellery and antiques are held and administered by one person or more (Trustee) for the benefit of another (Beneficiary). Trusts can be set up during your life or you can leave instructions to create a Trust in your Will after your death. There are many reasons why you may want to set up a Trust in your Will including:

  • If you have children from a previous marriage or relationship.
  • If you are worried about your children or grandchildren inheriting when they are too young.
  • If you are concerned that your spouse may remarry after you die and you wish to provide for him or her but ultimately pass your estate onto your children.
  • If you provide for a vulnerable or disabled loved one.
  • If you are concerned about protecting your home from future care fees.
  • To protect your wealth for future generations and prevent it from being dispersed.
  • If you are worried that a loved one may get divorced, have money problems or may misuse their inheritance.
TYPES OF TRUST YOU CAN INCLUDE IN YOUR WILL

Our experts at Vale Wills Ltd can advise you on the most appropriate Trust for your circumstances including:

  • Property Protection Trust Wills
  • Life Interest Trust
  • Wills including a Discretionary Trust
  • Vulnerable Persons Trust

Online Will Writing

Complete the online form on the website and an experienced professional will draft your Will and send it to you for your approval. Once you have approved the draft Will, we will produce your Will and send it to you with instructions on how to sign and have it witnessed.

Face to Face

Please contact us to arrange a face to face consultation where one of our experts can take your instruction and offer advice and guidance on writing a Will that meets your needs. We will then prepare a draft Will for your consideration and meet with you to oversee the execution of your document.

Postal Will Writing

We also offer a fast drafting postal service for clients. Complete the form on our website and return it to us by email or post. You will receive your draft Will in the post for your approval. Following your approval we will produce your Will and send it to you with instructions on how to sign and have it witnessed.

If a relative lives with you we can add a Right of Occupation in your Will to ensure that they can continue to live in your property after your death or to give them enough time to either buy out other Beneficiaries or find an alternative place to live.

Agricultural Wills Package

Vale Wills Ltd offer specialist advice to farming clients who may wish to pass on the family farm to a family member who works in the farming business but also compensate other Beneficiaries. As experts in Agricultural Wills and succession planning, we also provide advice on Agricultural Property Relief from Inheritance Tax. We can advise clients on how to apply tax reliefs and the exemptions available; as well as help families deal with the complexities of estate administration following a family member’s death.

Vale Working Wills

We understand that sometimes it is difficult to fit Will writing into your busy working life and it is often forgotten about. But whilst we work hard to provide for our loved ones during our lifetime it is important to also put provision in place for them after we die.

Vale Wills Ltd is teaming up with local employers in the Vale of Glamorgan to offer Will clinics to their employees at their place of work. The clinics offer a no obligation consultation on your Will and lifetime planning needs. As part of employee perk schemes we offer a discount on the cost of writing a Will as part of our Vale Working Wills scheme.

If you would like some more information on our Vale Working Wills scheme please get in touch.