Wills
No one relishes in the thought of their death. However, it is the one certainty to happen to us all and therefore it is vital to have a valid Will created so when you do die, your loved ones will have a document that clearly states your wishes for how your property is to be dispersed.
Our specialist Will Solicitors can advise you on the type of Will most appropriate for your needs.
This can range from simple Wills to more complex documents containing a Trust, providing a succession plan for your business, making charitable gifts, and protecting the interests of an unmarried partner. If you are a parent, we will ensure you have the opportunity to appoint guardians for your children. Furthermore, unlike many other law firms, we do not charge for storing Wills.
Based in our Coventry city centre offices, we are a diverse, multi-lingual law firm that uses best-in-class technology to provide clients with streamlined, modern, and highly effective Wills, Trusts, and estate planning advice and representation. Our years of experience in private client law means we have a robust reputation for excellence with the UK’s best Barristers and King’s Counsel, Estate Agents, Independent Financial Advisers, Tax Advisors, Surveyors, and Business Succession Planning Advisors who can bring additional support to our Wills, Trusts, and estate planning department if required.
Below are some of the most common questions we are asked about Wills.
Why do I need a Will?
Preparing a Will enables you to decide how your assets are to be shared and who is in control of matters when you die. We have years of experience creating Wills, therefore, you can be confident that every aspect of your estate and wishes for after you die are expressed clearly in the document.
If you do not have a Will your estate will be dispersed according to a set of standard laws, known as the Intestacy Rules. These may not include your intended beneficiaries and specifically exclude co-habiting partners. This can result in serious financial hardship for your partner who may lose the right to the home you have shared and your personal possessions.
There are many advantages to taking the time to prepare a comprehensive Will, not least of which is knowing that your loved ones will be taken care of and will not face stress and uncertainty about what will happen to them after you die.
What’s involved in making a Will?
We make preparing a Will simple. Our Wills Solicitors will make an appointment for you to discuss the assets you have and how you want them dispersed. For the appointment it is helpful if you bring along details of your assets and their value: the figures do not need to be exact, a general idea is enough. We will also need details of who you want to appoint as your executors and the beneficiaries of your Will.
After the appointment, the Will shall be drafted and sent to you for approval. Once approved you and your Solicitor will have another meeting to discuss and sign the Will alongside witnesses. Alternatively, the Will can be sent out to you for signing with full instructions as to how to ensure the signing is carried out correctly.
What are the legal requirements of a Will?
To be legally valid, a Will must be:
- in writing,
- signed by the Testator in the presence of two witnesses
- signed by the witnesses
In addition, the Testator must be 18 years or older, have made the Will voluntarily, and be of sound mind.
Can I challenge a Will?
The Courts in England and Wales are relatively strict on the view that a person has the right to leave their estate to whom they wish. Therefore, simply being unhappy with a person’s Will is unlikely to result in it being changed for your benefit. However, there are valid grounds for a Will being contested, for example, you believe the Testator was subject to undue influence or fraud, or they did not have the capacity to understand the effect of the document they were creating.
Our Wills Solicitors can collaborate with our Dispute Resolution team and quickly inform you if your challenge has a chance of success. We will do everything possible to avoid the matter going to Court – we are successful in resolving most cases through negotiation and/or mediation.
Why choose us?
Our Wills Solicitors will provide you with peace of mind that your affairs are in order and your loved ones will be taken care of when you die.
People choose and recommend us not just in Coventry, Nuneaton, Rugby and Leamington, but across Warwickshire, the Midlands and the whole of the UK, because we care about them, their family, and their future. Our Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning Solicitors are focused on results and achieving them in the most cost-effective, efficient way possible. This is why we are one of the most successful and busiest private client lawyers in Coventry and Warwickshire.
To talk to us about anything to do with Wills, please contact us using the form below, call us on Coventry (02476) 231000, email enquiries@askewslegal.co. or visit us at our city centre offices in Coventry.