Your last will and testament, everyone should have one but you would be surprised at the large percentage of people who do not even consider making any preparations for when they have gone. In 2011 it was estimated that around 70 percent of UK adults had not written a will of any sort. This can cause a myriad of problems and is called dying intestate. If you die intestate, your estate will divided in accordance with the law, even though you may have intimated your wishes to those close to you. Death can affect people in many different and out of character ways. It is difficult for a grieving individual to think clearly and it is at a time like this a will would help greatly to stop any family squabbles which invariably ensue as to who gets what. On many occasions families can be split after a death and can fight bitterly over heirlooms and monies which different people perceive to be theirs.
If you want your family to have as stress free a time as possible after your death then you need to make a will which is legally binding and made through a specialist lawyer.
There are many companies which have sprung up online which profess to help you write wills. Often these individuals have no legal training whatsoever and if you are looking to make a will which has different clauses within it they will certainly not be qualified to help and advise you on the legalities of your situation. Alternatively some individuals elect to write their own wills. Again it is always better to ensure that your family are provided for in the way in which you intend them to be by taking legal advice on your will. Will lawyers charge a relatively small amount of money to write your will and you will be able to relax in the knowledge that you have a legal document which will stand up to scrutiny in years to come.
Writing a will is especially important if you are living with a civil partner or if you have a few children and you wish your estate to be divided in a certain way. There is a myriad of reasons as to why you would need a will written especially in these modern times of second marriages and step children. Your specialist wills solicitor will be the person to help and advise you under these circumstances and they will also be able to advise at to whether there are any taxes such as inheritance tax for your survivors to pay.
To conclude, although many people see it as a very morbid and stressful thing to do, this needs to be transcended as dying intestate will potentially cause the loved ones who survive you a great deal of pain and worry. Make sure that you put your final instructions down on paper with a good lawyer. You and your loved ones will then have peace of mind for years to come.
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