Wills and Intestacy
If you have not made a Will, any property belonging to you alone or not held as joint tenants, will pass under the Intestacy Rules. The Rules may surprise you and are summarised below:
If You Die Leaving A Spouse/Civil Partner Plus Children/Grandchildren
- Your spouse/civil partner receives all your personal chattels e.g. household contents, jewellery, car etc.
- Your spouse/civil partner receives property/money up to £250,000.
- One half of the balance of the remainder of the estate passes to your spouse/civil partner absolutely.
- The other half of your estate will pass to the children absolutely upon reaching 18.
If You Die Leaving A Spouse/Civil Partner But No Children/Grandchildren/Great Grandchildren
- The entire estate passes to your surviving spouse/civil partner.
If You Die Leaving No Spouse/Civil Partner, The Order Of Priority Will Be:
- Children or, if there is none;
- Grandchildren
or, if there is none;
- Great
Grandchildren or, if there is none;
- Your
parents or, if there is none;
- Brothers
and sisters or their children or, if there is none;
- Through
remoter relatives until it passes to the State if there is no one to
inherit.
Cohabitees:
- No guarantee that your partner will get anything.
Remarried Couples
- Marriage cancels any earlier Wills and children from an earlier relationship will not benefit automatically.
Testamentary Guardian
- If you and your spouse/civil partner should be killed in a car accident, for example, you should consider what would happen to the children and ensure your wishes are contained in your Will to avoid any doubt or legal wrangle
No matter how much family harmony there may be during your lifetime, you cannot be sure that this will always be the case and the safest way to ensure that your wishes are carried out is to have them contained in a Will.
For a straightforward basic single Will we charge £120 plus VAT and for a straightforward basic husband and wife Will £140 plus VAT for the two. In addition, there is one £10 plus VAT fee to cover the Money Laundering process. If you decide to proceed, please arrange to come in for a short appointment by e-mailing teresa@waterssolicitors.co.uk or calling Teresa Waters on 01675 463855.
October 2014
For a straightforward basic single Will we charge £120 plus VAT and for a straightforward basic husband and wife Will £140 plus VAT for the two. In addition, there is one £10 plus VAT fee to cover the Money Laundering process. If you decide to proceed, please arrange to come in for a short appointment by e-mailing teresa@waterssolicitors.co.uk or calling Teresa Waters on 01675 463855.
October 2014
