The format is a phone in show with the public sending emails and texts to add to the flow.  The topic was “Inheritance,  Is It Worth The Hassle?” 

There were a number of very interesting contributions before I joined in.  A central theme was whether being disinherited or given a small inheritance in a Will than was expected, can lead to feelings of rejection as well as simply ‘missing’ the money.

There were good examples of family feuds and breakdowns caused by unexpected distributions in a Will. There was one particular contribution citing a parent constantly threatening to disinherit children if they didn’t pay repair bills etc.

It was a very interesting programme and one I enjoyed being involved in.  It really can be a very difficult area if not dealt with properly.Similar Posts:

• Richard Bacon show BBC Radio 5 Live
• Twitter and legal services
• Remarriage and inheritance: who gets my money?
• Can I leave it all to my dog?
• Did you hear the Goughs advert on Heart radio in Wiltshire ?

So if you are living in Dubai, for example, do you know what happens there if you die intestate? Are you confident that your estate will not be dealt with by Sharia Law?

Just as in the UK you are wise to have will in place. In Dubai you may may that not having a will and not planning for the event could have very serious consequences, especially for women.

Be careful how you go about having a ‘local’ will in Dubai, as the Probate court may interpret this as a request to be dealt with by Sharia law. If it is only dealing with property owned in Dubai and you have another will for your assets in the UK that could be the best course of action. It all depends on your circumstances.

Sharia Law favours distribution of the estate to male children and smaller amounts pass to a female spouse and female children.

As always take good advice and make the right will. Especially if you live in places like the UAE.Similar Posts:

• Honey I’m disinheriting the kids
• What is Probate?
• Glossary
• Some cornerstones of sound Estate Planning
• Remarriage and inheritance: who gets my money?

You may be wrong!

Look at this example:

Alan & Betty Smith have 3 grown up children when they divorce. The money and assets are then split equally so that they each have £300,000.

Betty then marries Charles and they buy a house together. Betty puts in £250,000 to match Charles’ contribution. As a married couple they buy in the normal way, as joint tenants.

Of her remaining £50,000, Betty put £30,000 into a joint savings account. The remainder is put into sole bank and saving accounts in Betty’s name.

With or without a Will the maximum that Betty’s 3 children could inherit is £20,000 because the jointly owned house and savings account (with a combined value of £330,000) is already owned by Charles. That money and that share in the house does not and cannot form part of any inheritance.

What can Betty do to ensure that her children can inherit her money and assets?

Firstly, sever the joint tenancy to become tenants-in-common of the house. This means that they would own 50% each.

But Betty doesn’t want Charles to be forced out of the house!

That’s easy, if Betty sets up a Life Interest Trust in her Will it can allow Charles the right to use the house (or it’s value) until he dies and then the half share in the house passes to Betty’s children.

What about the joint savings account?

If money is put into a sole savings account in Betty’s name that can pass directly to the children or it could be put into the Life Interest Trust. The interest accrued would be paid to Charles during his life. On his death the money would be distributed to the children

So by understanding the problem and acting on it a solution can be found quite easily to satisfy all sides.

If you would like know more about how to avoid this problem or to arrange a free no obligation consultation you can call us for free on 0800 878 6565 or 07942 959599 or use our contact page and we will call you back within one working day.

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

• Joint tenancy can defeat inheritance even if you have a Will
• Honey I’m disinheriting the kids
• Inheritance Tax
• What is a Will?
• Can I leave it all to my dog?

However, many Wills are declared invalid by the Probate Registry due to defects in the attestation (signing procedure) or because of damage/alerations to the Will.

Many Wills are invalidated because they were made before someone got married without mentioning that the Will was made in contemplation of the forthcoming marriage.

Many Wills have been badly drafted due to inadequate DIY attempts.

Many Wills are simply no longer suitable for the job e.g. after a divorce or other changes in family circumstances.

Some Wills simply ignore how to deal with important business interests.

Please think of the matters dealt with in a Will as a snapshot of what was appropriate at that time – not for the rest of your life. To ensure that your Will is effective it should be reviewed every 3-5 years, not just left in the drawer until the day you die.

You made your Will to get peace of mind but you can’t have peace of mind without knowing it is valid and useful.

So, I am offering a free no obligation review of your Will to confirm (1) if it is valid and (2) if it is still fit for purpose.

Please contact me for details.

 01225 582 582 or 07942 95 95 99 or use our contact page and you will be called back.

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

• Marriage Can Make You Intestate!
• What Triggers the Decision to Make a Will?
• What is a Will?
• Legal challenges to a valid will?
• Probate

You probably want to make a Will but keep putting it off…as people do!

Maybe you have made a Will already but do you know is it fit for purpose or if it is still valid?

I am starting to find the answer to this question “What triggers the decision to make a Will”

I regularly attend an excellent Business Networking organisation called 4 Networking (“4N”). I go to 4N breakfast meetings in Bath, Bristol, Chippenham, Cirencester and Trowbridge. At each meeting I get a chance to talk to the group and hopefully educate and inform my fellow networkers.

It has become clear to me that many of these well informed and experienced people are simply not aware of the problems in store for them if they do not have a Will in place, or do not have their existing Will reviewed regularly.

At every meeting I find people who have been blissfully unaware of serious and important issues that are relevant to their personal circumstances. Following my presentations, many at these 4N meetings have been ‘driven’ to immediate action and called on my services.

So, to me the answer is clearer now. When presented with the facts about both the problems in store for your loved ones and the inheritance laws that apply to everyday personal and family situations most people feel compelled to take action.

So here are 4 things too many people don’t know:

* If you have a young child and no Guardian appointed in a Will, Social Services will have responsibility for you child – NOT a god-parent and NOT a close relative

* If you are part of an unmarried couple your partner will inherit nothing unless it is allowed for in your Will

* Your child might inherit nothing at all if your parther remarries (sometimes called ‘second marriage syndrome’)

* If you get married your existing Will is invalid unless ‘made in contemplation’ of that marriage

So, plenty of sound reasons to sort out your Will now or have it reviewed if you have one already. Circumstances change regularly and your Will should reflect that.

If you would like a free no obligation Will review or if you want to arrange a visit please call Bill Ryan on FREEPHONE 0800 878 6565 or 07942 959599. Alternatively use the contact page and you will be called back shortly.Similar Posts:

• Marriage Can Make You Intestate!
• Parental responsibility
• Has your Financial Advisor told you to do your Will?
• Do you have a disabled child?
• Unmarried couples and Lasting Power of Attorney

If you have a Will at the time get married you may be surprised to know that the Will is invalidated by law. There is one exception though and that is that the Will was made in contemplation of marriage. Put simply you must mention in the Will that you are getting married to your future spouse. This applies equally to Civil Partnerships.

So lots of people may think they have a perfectly good Will but in fact do not have a valid Will at all. This could lead to a whole raft of problems for those you care about most.

This is yet another reason for having your Will reviewed every few years because circumstances change and your Will should reflect that.

If you would like a free no obligation Will review or if you want to arrange a visit please call Bill Ryan on 01225 582582 or 07942 959599. Alternatively use the contact page and you will be called back shortly.

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

• What Triggers the Decision to Make a Will?
• Is your Will still valid and fit for purpose? Free MOT check.
• Contact
• Q & A
• Home

He wanted them to stay in the family home in London, valued at £1.5 million and he also wanted Taryn to have his shares in a successful corporate hospitality business.

However, the will signing was witnessed by only one person and a result, he was declared to have died intestate. The law requires two people to witness the signing.

His 42-year-old wife was plunged into a legal nightmare. She has been given legal advice that the only way she can remain in the family home and give her children the upbringing she and her late husband planned is to sue her children, in effect, for their inheritance.

This is a classic example of how things can wrong so easily without professional help and guidance.

The full story was published on 27th May 2009 in the TelegraphSimilar Posts:

• Is a common law wife an old wives tale ?
• Most wills fail due to faulty attestation
• Is your Will still valid and fit for purpose? Free MOT check.
• Over a year from first contact to signing!
• What is a Will?

For a will to be properly attested (signed) there has to be two witnesses present who witness the attestation by the person making the will. In other words these two witnesses must actually see the will being signed.

As a matter of good practice, I advise the witnesses that for the next few minutes they must stay in the room, switch off their mobiles and await my instructions. This helps prevent them wandering off and, hopefully, after I have explained to them exactly what they have to do they will have a clear idea of their role. The two witnesses should then sign the will confirming that they have witnessed the signature by the testator.

This failing is most frequently found when DIY wills are presentedfor Probate. The proper procedure is surely mentioned in the instructions of the DIY will package but the potential for missing this one vital point is very high.

My Professional Indemnity insurance requires me to be at the attestation just to avoid this common mistake.

If you would like some advice on this matter or indeed anything about wills or to arrange a visit please call FREEPHONE 0800 878 6565 or 07942 959599 or use our contact page and we will call you back.

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.Similar Posts:

• Is your Will still valid and fit for purpose? Free MOT check.
• Over a year from first contact to signing!
• Glossary
• Should I gamble on My Will ?
• Probate