Unfortunately it does happen. Quite often you make your will years in advance of
actually needing it and a lot can change during that time. So, if someone dies
who you’ve named as a beneficiary in your will, what will happen?
You have three options:
1. Change your will – if someone dies you could amend your will or write a new
one to reflect that change. We recommend you review your will on a regular
basis anyway to see if any changes need to be made.
2. With an Affio will you can sp
It is essentially up to you who you decide to leave an inheritance to in your
will – there are no rules about who you must include. But before you decide to
leave someone out you might want to consider the impact this will have after
you’ve gone.
If someone is excluded
If you choose to exclude (or neglect to include) someone who is dependant on you
financially they may be able to challenge your will in court. Find out more in
our ‘When can your will be challenged in court’ article.
A challenge
Whilst most of your assets and possessions can be left to anyone you choose,
there are a number of things which fall outside the scope of your will and will
be disregarded, no matter what you request.
Items which can’t be included:
* Joint bank accounts – any funds in these accounts will automatically go to
the surviving account holder.
* Any property held as a joint tenancy – your half of the property will
automatically go to the surviving joint tenant. See our ‘Your home and your
If circumstances have changed or the will is worded poorly then gifts may not
come into effect in the way you want. It’s vital your will is written clearly
and correctly.
There are two main reasons a gift might fail:
Circumstances have changed
Examples of changes in circumstances that can cause a gift to fail include:
* The Testator no longer owns the item or property matching the description in
the will.
* The Beneficiary dies before the person who made the will.
* A charity mentioned
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax levied on a deceased’s estate. The estate is,
with a few exceptions, everything the deceased owns immediately before death.
Normally the tax is charged at 40% of the value of the estate. However there are
lots of exemptions that mean currently only about 1 in 20 estates pay any IHT.
We explain these exemptions below.
Leaving all or part of your estate to your husband, wife or civil partner
The good news is that any gifts made in your will to your spouse or civil
p
If you have documented your wishes that are to be carried out after your death
in the form of a will, you will need to review it periodically.
Having your estate and finances distributed to people of your choosing can be
handled legally by way of a will. However if your circumstances change you may
want to alter things like beneficiaries or change assets that are bequeathed to
a specific person.
Life brings about many changes and there are a number of instances where you may
need to amend your Read More »
In the eventuality that the unthinkable happens, you will need a will to make
provision for your partner or spouse. This will not only ensure that they are
financially provided for, it will saves months of painful legal process and
potential disagreements with other relatives.
Making a will is not always on the forefront of everyone's mind especially when
daily living, work, and other things take over. However, it is a sound part of
your overall financial planning.
If you happen to die befor Read More »
Traditionally, the way to write a will and get your affairs in order has been to
engage the services of a solicitor. Having expert help to walk you through the
legal steps required gives a level of comfort and security when it comes to
making plans for your estate.
It also comes at a price.
Using a solicitor to document how you want your finances and assets managed in
the event of your passing does not come cheap. It can also take more than one
appointment which can rack up the cost.
An onl Read More »
You may have thought once or twice about preparing your will. It is one of those
tasks that is easily put off, but it is essential to protect your family, your
estate, and convey your wishes legally and effectively.
However, like many others you may have delayed writing your will for any number
of reasons.
It can be time consuming
It can be stressful or unpleasant
It can be expensive
To draft a will in the traditional manner you will need to book an appointment
with a solicitor, sort out Read More »
Now the hangover has passed and we are back into daily routine here are three
simple things you should sort out in the New Year to keep your AFFairs In Order
(thats the origin of the affio name).
1. Write your Will – it should take between half an hour and an hour to do on
affio. Print it, sign it in front of witnesses and put it somewhere safe.
Tell someone you trust where your Will is! Wills are much simpler than
people realise and it is better to have something and come back lat Read More »
