Top 10 issues if you don’t make a Will

A recent article prepared by STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) highlights the top 10 issues that families may face when a loved one passes away without leaving a valid Will. These issues are summarised as follows:

1. Your estate may be distributed under the intestacy rules, which may be undesirable;
2. Step-children and unmarried partners may be overlooked;
3. Your partner may be left homeless;
4. Your children may be left with no legal guardian;
5. Your family may face additional distress at a difficult time;
6. Your money may go to the government rather than people you want it to go to;
7. Family disputes may arise;
8. Legal action may be required, which can be very expensive;
9. Your family may face a higher bill for inheritance tax;
10. The law is regularly changing, and it may not favour your family.

The above only highlights ten of the issues that can be caused by not having a Will in place, but there are many more.

We understand that making a Will can be a worrying process and often something that many people do not want to think about, but here at Franklins we believe that friendliness and approachability are crucial and with our solicitors expertise, putting a Will in place does not have to be a daunting prospect.

For further information, please see the full article published by STEP.

For more information, advice or guidance on preparing or updating your Will, please contact our Wills team on either 01908 660966 or 01604 828282 or by email on wills@franklins-sols.co.uk