A local solicitor called Goughs has a number of offices in the Wiltshire area at Chippenham, Corsham, Melksham, Calne, Devizes and Trowbridge. They arre currently advertising their services on Heart radio. This includes their Wills and Probate service which they suggest will save you money.

I am not going to disagree with them that making your Will can save money. However if you use the services of a professional Will Writer I would say you can save money on the cost of making your Will as well.

I offer a free and friendly no obligation advice, with appointments in the comfort of your own home. There is a fixed price menu of services and no hidden extras. As members of the Institute of Professional Willwriters the highest professional standards are observed.

So if Goughs have made you think about doing your Will you can thank them and if you decide to ask us to work for you I will thank them as well.

If you would like to get advice or arrange a visit you can call William Ryan on FREEPHONE 0800 878 6565 or 07942 959599 or use our contact page and I will call you back within one working day.

Affordable peace of mind for people from all walks of life and for those not wanting the cost of a high street solicitor.

The home visit Will service is available in Berkshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

I have just seen the cheapest version of a DIY Will kit yet. I was posting a letter in the Box Post Office in Corsham (which in Wiltshire and just a few miles from Bath for those who don’t know). I noticed a poster advertising a DIY Will kit for just £9.99. Well that beats the one for £15 in WH Smiths I suppose.

For many people the appeal of this cheap route to making a Will may seem like an excellent idea but if you don’t get it right the results could be disastrous.

Now I am not saying it can’t be done adequately using the DIY route. But on the other hand most Wills are found to be invalid through procedural defects such as problems with the signing procedure or through improper amendments to the Will. This sort of fault would not happen if properly supervised by a professional.

Also, without the proper fact finding and advice that you would receive by using a professional, there is real potential for missing out on important benefits e.g. using the right type of Will Trust to protect your property. In addition there may be ways of saving Care Home fees, Inheritance Tax or even ensuring your children can still inherit if you die and your partner remarries. There are many issues that can be of real importance but do you understand what they are?

And what happens if there is a mistake? Your loved ones will find out after you have died and it would be left to them to ‘pick up the pieces’. There is no Professional Indemnity insurance to fall back on either.

Is making your Will really the sort of thing you want to take a gamble with?

If you would like further advice or to arrange a home visit you can call free on 0800 878 6565 or 07942 959599 or use the contact page.

Affordable peace of mind for people from all walks of life and for those not wanting the cost of a high street solicitor.

The home visit Will service is available in Berkshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

The recent sad death of a young mother called Jade Goody from cancer, made plenty of headlines. It has raised many issues including cervical smear testing regimes and the ethics of dying in the public eye.

The fact that Jade knew she would die in a short time made her deal with a number of issues many of us never get around to doing. She knew she had to make a will. She knew she had to make provisions for her children and she wanted to make sure that they would have the maximum benefit from her assets; it is reported she put a £4 million trust fund in place for them.

So she he planned her estate in good time and died knowing she had done her very best in this important respect. Yet another thing for you to think about.

If you would like some advice or want to arrange a home visit please contact Bill Ryan on 0800 878 6565 or on 07942 959599.

The home visit Will service is available in Berkshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Running a business involves the use of your skills, your judgement and planning. So you can achieve your business goals. When thinking of your Will and how to deal with your business interests think about these questions:

What would happen to my business if I died tomorrow ?
Who would then make decisions about the business?
Would the business need to be sold?
Can I leave my business to someone through my Will?

Your circumstances coupled with the business structure will largely dictate the answers to these questions.

Sole Traders
As a sole trader you are often the key person of the business with knowledge, skills and experience that cannot be replaced. Without you does the business has a value in terms of physical assets and goodwill that would allow the business to be sold as a going concern. If not the only realistic option may be for that the business is wound up and any monies realised as part of the estate.

Other possibilities might be to ‘bring on’ an employee to purchase the business on such suitable terms that suit each party. Your Will can be drafted to achieve your wishes and if necessary by giving special powers to Trustees to accomplish your wishes. Remember to check leases and contracts within the business in particular the ‘in the event of your death’ provisions. There may be penalties and restrictions on the rights to assign.

Partnerships
A Partnership position cannot be passed on in a Will. However, you can leave the financial interest you have in the Partnership. Without a Partnership Agreement (“PA “) the death of a partner dissolves the Partnership and the firm is then wound up with the applicable proportion of the capital and income passing to your estate.

Consider the possibility that at the time of death there may actually be more liabilities than than capital which would leave the estate potentially liable for any debts under the doctrine of joint and several liability. So if death occurs at a time when liabilities exceed the capital in the firm there may nothing to leave and outstanding debts would be payable from your estate as the liability is against the individual Partners and not the no longer existing Firm.

Best advice is to have good insurance cover to pay off the the financial interest on the death of a Partner. AND to have a formal Partnership Agreement which spells out, amongst other things, the procedures in these circumstances.

Best practice is for each partner to have a Will and a Partnership Agreement so that you can ensure that your family your and surviving business Partners benefit from a considered and planned settlement of your business affairs. Just as important is that a surviving Partner will enjoy the protection afforded through your foresight and planning.

A Shareholder in a Limited Company
A Limited Liability Company has a separate identity distinct from the shareholders who own it. The Articles of Association of the Company set out the rights of Shareholders including the rights a shareholder has to dispose of his shares. Quite often there is a requirement to give other shareholders an option to purchase upon the death of a shareholder. There may be an option to leave shares to specified family members e.g. Spouse and children.

By ensuring the Articles of Association are suitably drafted you can achieve the desired succession arrangements in your Will. The importance of the distribution of the shares after death is clearly more important if it involves a major shareholding.

In conclusion, if your business is capable of continuing you need to ensure that the necessary permissions and restrictions are dealt within advance and that you have well drafted Will.Otherwise it may well not survive after your death and serve to an extra layer of problems to what would surely be a difficult enough time for your loved ones.

If you would like to talk more about Estate Planning in relation to your business please contact Bill Ryan g the contact page or call FREEPHONE 0800 878 6565 or 07942 959599.

The home/business visit Will service is available in Berkshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

I was at a meeting yesterday where many of my colleagues dressed up for Comic Relief and we had a sort of ‘swear box’ as well. My kids went to school in pyjamas today and paid £1 each for the privilege with the money going to Comic Relief.

So I will try to do my bit through this offer.

I will donate £25 to Comic Relief for each Will or Lasting Power of Attorney I am instructed on during the next seven days. Any takers before 20th March?

So there is now yet another good reason to make your Will or get that lasting Power of Attorney in place.

If you would like to arrange a consultation please call Bill Ryan on FREEPHONE 0800 878 6565 or 07942 959599 or use the contact page and I will call you back within one working day.

The home visit Will service is available in Berkshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.