Making a Will

Most people have all good intentions to make a Will. Fewer get round to it.

Not having a Will in place matters more than most people realise. Without a Will, the law (intestacy rules) decides who inherits your estate, who looks after your children, who handles the administration and what happens to everything you have spent a lifetime building. The intestacy rules are fixed and cannot take account of your individual wishes, relationships or circumstances.

A Will ensures you are in control and documents your wishes and instructions for what is to happen to your estate in writing. It protects you, the people you care about and reduces uncertainty from a time that will already be difficult for your family.

Making a Will is less complicated than most people expect. At Pepperells, we make the process straightforward, efficient and tailored to your circumstances.

What Happens Upon Passing Without a Will

When someone dies without a Will they are said to have died intestate. The intestacy rules then determine who can inherit their estate and, in some circumstances, who has priority to deal with it. They follow a fixed order of priority as to who can deal with and inherit your estate, regardless of your wishes or circumstances. The rules do not necessarily reflect what you would have chosen.

For example, an unmarried partner does not automatically inherit under the intestacy rules, regardless of how long the relationship has lasted. Stepchildren are not treated in the same way as biological or legally adopted children.

Close friends, chosen family members and charities you care about will not automatically inherit either.

Depending on the circumstances, a spouse or civil partner may inherit all or part of an estate, with children potentially inheriting a share. If someone dies without qualifying relatives, their estate can ultimately pass to the Crown.

A Will allows you to make your own choices rather than leaving these decisions to the intestacy rules.

What a Will Covers

A properly drafted Will can:

• • Name who inherits your estate including property, money and possessions, and in what shares.
• • Appoint Executors. These are the people who you wish to be responsible for administering your estate. Choosing the right people and making sure they understand what is involved matters considerably.
• • Appoint Guardians for children under the age of 18, where appropriate. Without a Will, that decision may fall to the Court.
• • Include specific gifts: a sum of money to a particular person, a possession with sentimental value to someone who would value it, a donation to a cause you care about.
• • Record your funeral wishes and arrangements for pets.
• • Include trust provisions for family members/children (especially important when you are part of a blended family with stepchildren), vulnerable beneficiaries etc.
• • Inheritance tax planning or care home fee planning where relevant to your circumstances.

When To Update Your Will

Making a Will is not necessarily a one-time task. Your circumstances can change, and your Will should continue to reflect your wishes.

You should consider reviewing your Will following significant life events, including:

• Getting married or entering into a civil partnership. In England and Wales, marriage generally revokes an earlier Will unless the Will was made in contemplation of that particular marriage.
• Divorce or the end of a relationship. Divorce does not revoke a Will, but it removes gifts to a former spouse and their appointment as Executor. What remains may not reflect your current wishes.
• The birth or adoption of a child.
• Changes to your family circumstances.
• Significant changes to your assets or financial circumstances.
• The death of someone named in your Will.
• A change in who you would like to benefit from your estate.
• A change in who you would like to act as your Executor or guardian.

If you have not reviewed your Will for some time, it is worth taking advice to make sure it still does what you want.

How We Work

We make the process as straightforward as possible and offer appointments to suit you.

You can meet with us:

• Face-to-face at one of our offices.
• By video call.
• By telephone.
• At home, where a home visit is appropriate.
• In hospital, where someone needs to make or sign a Will urgently.
• If your circumstances are urgent, we can act quickly to prepare a Will and assist with the signing process.

Fixed Fees

All Will work is on a fixed fee basis. You know the cost before anything starts.

We also offer, at no extra charge:

• Free secure storage in our deed room, so your Will can be found when it is needed

Your Questions, Answered

Get In Touch

Making a Will is one of the most important things you can do to protect the people you care about and ensure your wishes are recorded; make sure you are in control. It is often quicker and more straightforward than people expect, and our fixed-fee approach means you know the cost before you proceed. Whether you are making your first Will, updating an existing one or dealing with more complex family or financial circumstances, our team is here to help. Get in touch today to arrange an appointment.