THIS IS A REMINDER TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE NOT MADE A_________WILL_________ YET

[RTKangaMummy]

PLEASE DO IT ASAP

TIA

.

bumpity bump

Whats the cheapest way of doing it ??

absolutely. v. important. particularly guardianship issues for children - it's my understsanding that if you haven't got a will with specific guardianship instructions, social services take over.....
we used a specialist company that just does wills - cheaper than solicitor.

\link{http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/working_lunch/4816886.stm\here are some deffo brill info and tips}

Will writing campaign underway

The Law Society has been campaigning on behalf of solicitors and the public for the regulation of the will-writing for some years. It wants a level playing field for all in a market where the unqualified and unregulated 'will-writer' can so easily exploit vulnerable clients.

Despite this, the government doesn't accept that there is enough evidence to justify regulation. Please take a few minutes to fill out an online questionnaire so the Law Society we can put together the detailed evidence that could change the government's mind.

\link{http://www.probatesection.org.uk/pages/content/view/38\if you click here there is a guide}

i desperatly need to do one . i have children with different partners and i need to the peace of mined that they will stay together and where they will live. it worries me stupid and im only 23. how where and how much if you know?

Thanks, will take a look.

I would definitely recommend using a solicitor rather than a will writing co if there is anythin g the least bit unusual about your circimstances, or if you have assets greater than the IHT band (275K)

Guardianship issues can also be very complicated

If you are a member of the public wanting assistance finding a solicitor in your area, search the online Probate Section member database or contact the Probate Section administrator (email [email protected] or telephone 020 7316 5678).

In addition, The Law Society produces a series of information leaflets available from your solicitor or The Law Society Information Service (telephone 0870 606 6575). They following leaflets can be downloaded from this website:
Your Guide to Probate
Your Guide to Making a Will
Your Guide to Financial Matters for the Elderly
Your Guide to Using a Solicitor
The Client’s Charter: Your Solicitor’s Customer Care Standards
The guides are also available in a number of languages at www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/commonlegalproblems.law

Frequently asked questions about obtaining copies of probate records; safe keeping documents; grants of probate; performing standing searches; and withdrawing a will from safe keeping can be found at www.courtservice.gov.uk/cms/3724.htm along with addresses of probate offices and information about probate records and family history.

Information about making a will and donating to charities can also be found at www.charityexplorer.com, which is managed by the Law Society's Gazette.

In addition to this, advice on how to find the find the right expert solicitor to deal with your legal problem has been launched by the Law Society. The guide directs people towards finding solicitors who have accreditation in their specific area of work. These solicitors, known as panel members, have expert skills, knowledge and experience that has been tested and certified. For more information click the link below:
www.lawsociety.org.uk/documents/downloads/CCG_english_panels.pdf

IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN HOUSE THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.........

Ian from Worcestershire wants to know where he can get more information on discretionary trusts? With his wife he's already made their home 'tenants-in-common', but wish to do new wills, minimising inheritance tax, covering their home, 50% ownership of another home, and pension schemes etc.

First to explain what this question is about. It's a way to save inheritance tax for married couples or for those in a civil partnership. What the couple would like is that when the first dies, the second should be able to benefit from all of the couple's joint estates and then when the survivor dies, the ultimate beneficiaries, usually their children, inherit.

But if this is done, only the survivor's estate is able to take advantage of the nil rate band (NRB) - the maximum amount that can pass to beneficiaries (other than spouse or charities) without the beneficiaries having to pay inheritance tax. This is currently £275,000, and will rise to £285,000 for the 2006/07 tax year. For the beneficiaries to be able to use both of the couple's NRB, the first to die must also use their NRB - pass it to beneficiaries other than the survivor. But normally if you do that then the survivor can't have use of the funds. However one thing you can do is for the first to go to give their NRB to trustees of a discretionary trust, where the survivor is a beneficiary of that trust, which if run correctly, can mean that the survivor can have use of the funds without those funds being in their estate for inheritance tax purposes.

This means that, in due course, the ultimate beneficiaries can inherit from the survivor and the trust - and two NRB are used.

Getting information about this scheme is difficult. A lot is written about it but it's not always clear. There are some investment houses who run various courses about this, and financial advisers can also mention it - but often they have an ulterior motive for informing you about the scheme - which isn't always in your best interests. You also need to know that this isn't always the answer - there might be reasons why this scheme is not for you and there might be alternatives.

The best thing to do is get independent trained professional advice - go to a solicitor - you can find one by contacting the Probate Section or the Law Society.

I don't have an excuse - my brother is a barrister - but still haven't done it....(hangs head in shame...)

Might be the wrong time of year but \link{http://www.willaid.org.uk/\Will Aid} is an excellent time of year to make a will (unfortunately it's not til November!)

As I understand it, although Social Services will take your requests for guardianship into account they are not obliged to obey them, but definitely still worth having a will in place if for no other reason than that.

bump

other than the girls - i have nothing to put in a will yet..... and my dad knows (as does my bro and SIL) that the girls are to go to Dad first, bro and SIL second (if dad is no longer here)

You could also look at what services your union offers if you are a union mmeber. I'm a member of Amicus and we're in the process of drawing up a will as it's a free benefit - the union pays the solicitor.

so far we don't havea ny complaints.

DH wrote \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/bigissues/makingawill.html\this article} for Mumset about making a will.

Making a will is the only way to ensure your wishes are follwoed after your death. They can also save your family left behind a lot of time, stress and money.

I would say always get a proper lsolicitor, and preferably one who specialises in this area of law, to write your will. DH makes more money from sorting out probates when DIY or will-writing company wills go wrong - ad they do often.

Guardianship is just an expression of your wishes and are not legally binding. They will be taken into account though.

As an example of fees, these are the fees that DH has quoted in his article. DH is a solictor specialising in this area and is very reputable, hence his fees are not the cheapest. And these are based in Yorkshire, although ANY olicitor can do your will as it can be done by -mail and telephone, not just in person.

I am not selling DH here, just uing his fees as a uide for you (he doesn't need me to advertise him!!!).

Standard rates are as follows:

Single straight forward Will £90 plus VAT
Joint straight forward Will £110 plus VAT
Will containg protective Trust £170 plus VAT
Tax planning Will £400 plus VAT

INHEIRITANCE TAX HAS GONE UP TO £325,000 IIRC

TODay

would your DH agree with TEnants in common ?????

For IHT planning, he says yes. Otherwise it depends on what you want to achieve.

"I will raise the amount of inheritance exempt from tax over the next 4 years from £275,000 this year to £325,000. 94 per cent of estates pay no tax." quote from his speech today

I have to admit to putting off making a will becasue I have no idea what to put in it with regards to the children.

I can't see us reaching an agreement over guardianship or stuff like that. Who on earth would we want to have the children? Dh would want his parents, I would want mine.

It is a minefield.

You can do your will without guardianship included if necessary. However it is good to be able to sit down and discuss this. Go through all the +ve and -ves on each side. And possibly look at neutral alternatives to parents.

We are going to do it for our new wills at easter. So that DS doesn't get taxed

as we own one of our houses outright without a mortage and is in joint names {DH and Mine}

so it seems to make sense iyswim

Is that right? That is what it is for isn't it?