Wills
Gemini's Estate Planning division offers Will writing, drafting of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA's) as well as secure document storage.
Our Estate Planning division was set up to offer a high level of personal
service when dealing with the sometimes difficult issue of Will writing and drafting of Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Many people plan to make a Will but never 'get round to it', yet making a Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death
Gemini's Estate Planning Consultant is a member of The Society of Will Writers, which is a non-profit making body that exists to raise the profile of Will Writing in the UK and to act as a regulatory organisation to ensure its members are trained and competent.
As soon as you have decided to make a Will - and the sooner the better - you
may prefer to discuss your personal affairs in the comfort and privacy of your own home. There are many Will Writing services advertised, but it is vital to choose one that is competent, professional and has the appropriate expertise and experience. All Society of Will Writers members go through a stringent vetting procedure and continuing training to ensure that they are suitable persons to properly write your Will.
Anyone can call themselves a Will Writer - you can even 'do it yourself' with a form from a well-known stationer. But only a properly trained professional can ensure that your Will is correctly drafted. Home made or badly made Wills can be just as bad (or even worse!) than no Will at all.
With Gemini Estate Planning, appointments to take your will instructions can be arranged at a convenient time to suit you and can either be in our offices or at your own home. If you would like to make an appointment or would like any further information, then please contact us.
Why make a Will?
MAKING A WILL is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death. If you die without making a Will, the consequences could be a lot more serious than you think:
• Your next of kin sometimes won't know if you have made a Will or not, and
will spend time searching for one.
• When they don't find your Will, they'll then have to apply to the courts for
the power to deal with your estate (assuming it's worth more than £5,000).
This takes a lot longer than the simple process of 'Applying for Probate'
when you have written a Will.
• In the meanwhile, they'll have to pay your funeral expenses and (in almost all cases, due to the significant extra delay) pay any Inheritance tax due
BEFORE they've gained access to your Estate/money (due date is six months after the end of the month in which the death occurred and interest is charged on late payments).
• If you have any children and haven't appointed Guardians for them (and their mother/father isn't alive), your next of kin will have to sort that out as
well.
• When they finally have access to all of your Estate, it is distributed according to the Laws of Intestacy which in most cases will not be what you want - and any special gifts you wanted to make will be ignored.
During this time your beneficiaries may not be able to draw any money from your estate. It can mean arguments and distress for relatives. Making a Will lets your loved ones know that you cared enough to 'sort things out' in advance.
IF YOU are a single person you will want your estate divided amongst friends, relatives and charities of your choosing and in the proportions you want.
IF YOU are married, don't assume 'my other half will get everything'. Brothers and sisters or parents may have a claim. Often your children have a right to part of your estate. If you are living as a couple but not officially married, you may be treated as a single person and a surviving partner may get nothing at all. One thing you can be certain of - there will be argument and dispute at a time when the family should be coping with the loss of a loved one.
IF YOU are a parent, you should consider who would look after your children in the event of your death. This is particularly important in the case of one-parent families or unmarried parents living together. A valid Will nominating guardians is invaluable in such cases. If no one knows what you would have wanted, the Court will decide on the future of your children, and it may not be what you would have wished.
IF YOU are retired maybe you made a Will a long time ago. It probably needs updating to include additional grandchildren or deletion of persons you no longer feel you wish to leave anything to.
A Will brings security, reassurance and above all peace of mind - not just for you, but for all those who depend on you, either now or in the future.
For more information on your Will, call us FREE on 0800 255 0123 or [click here] for one of our advisers to contact you.
