You may have heard the term Estate Planning but you could be forgiven for not really knowing what it means.

The basic premise is that it is to make sure your family is taken care of if something happens to you.

For many people this can mean financial planning, lifetime gifts, drafting a Will and setting up Lasting Powers of Attorney.

For some, perhaps those of more modest means, it may simply mean writing a Will to distibute their estate e.g. leaving everything to their surviving spouse or partner and then on to their children.

For those with more substantial wealth the avoidance of Inheritance Tax (IHT) may become an important issue. This can be achieved in a number of ways e.g. ‘jumping a generation’ by making legacies to grandchildren.

A Lasting Power of Attorney allows you to name a person or persons you trust to make decisions about your health care and/or finances if you get sick and can’t you make these decisions by yourself.

You should do this now – not later.

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

As financial planning is an important part of Estate Planning I can put you in touch one of the excellent Financial Advisors I work with. You can get free expert advice and a free financial review as well.

Working together we can provide a comprehensive solution for your needs.

If you would like to talk to me I can offer free advice with no obligation, or if you want to be put in touch with one of my partner Financial Advisors (IFAs) please call me on FREEPHONE 0800 878 6565 or 07942 959599 or use the contact us page.

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.

Many people take advantage of the services of an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA). This is a very good idea for most people because it is probably the single best way to develop a sensible strategy for financial security and to help maximise returns on investments.

Apart from the direct financial benefits there is the added sense of satisfaction and peace of mind that comes with having one’s affairs in good order. It is good practice for IFAs to ask about their client’s will and advise about the desirability of having an up to date will that reflects the client’s wishes. On the level of tax avoidance it surely makes sense to plan the distribution of your estate to avoid or minimise Inheritance Tax (IHT).

You may be pointed towards a Professional Will Writer or Solicitor to advise you how to achieve your wishes by writing a will or updating an existing Will. This is sound advice. If your IFA does not mention Wills to you might want to ask why not!

If you would like to arrange a consultation please call Bill Ryan on 01225 582582 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.

When someone dies without a Will they are said to be intestate.  What happens next is dictated by the law and in particular, the laws of intestacy.  In many cases the distribution of assets may lead to a result far from that desired or intended.

One example is that the intestacy laws do not recognise unmarried couples. Therefore, an unmarried surviving partner would have no right to any of the deceased partners’ assets under the ‘normal’ law on intestacy.  There might be a chance through legal action but there is no certainity of a successful outcome.

In the case of a married couple with children, the surviving spouse is currently entitled to the first £125,000 of the deceased spouse’s sole assets plus a life interest (an income) from the remaining half.

Just from the two examples above it can be seen that many problems could arise in these circumstances!

So please make New Year Resolution to make or update your Will.  Use a professional specialising in Wills and Estate Planning to ensure that your affairs are in order.

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.