Will Writing Service Solicitors in Loughborough, Leicestershire

Making a Will ensures that your estate (which includes your money and property) is distributed according to your wishes after you die. Our specialist Will writing service solicitors based in Loughborough, Leicestershire can help you put your wishes into a clear legally binding document.

If you die without making a Will (called dying intestate), your estate may not go to who you would want it to. The Rules of Intestacy govern how intestate estates must be distributed and this may not be in line with your wishes. For example, unmarried partners cannot inherit under the Rules of Intestacy.

Our Will writing service makes lifetime planning simple and straightforward. We will provide detailed advice in plain, understandable English so you can make informed decisions about who should inherit your estate when you die. We will also give you basic Inheritance Tax advice as part of the Will drafting service.

For expert-led Will writing services, get in touch with our Will Solicitors by giving us a call at our office in Loughborough, Leicestershire, emailing legal@johnsonastill.com or filling in our enquiry form.

Our Will writing service solicitors’ expertise in Loughborough

We provide complete Will drafting services so you can move on with your life feeling confident that your loved ones will be taken care of after you die. For the majority of clients, we can offer fixed fee Will drafting packages so you will always know exactly how much you are spending.

We will help you explore and think about all possibilities to ensure the final Will document is as comprehensive as possible. This includes tackling questions like, should your home be sold or do you want to leave it to a specific loved one? Do you want to leave money to charity? What will happen to your pets? Who will look after your children if you die while they are under 18?

We can also provide advice about mirror Wills (also referred to as joint Wills) – these are Wills usually made by couples that largely reflect each other.

Why make a Will?

Many people put off making a Will, assuming they will get around to it later in life or thinking they are not wealthy enough. However, everyone should consider making a Will, particularly if you have children or own property. Below are just some of the reasons why:

• Ensure your loved ones are provided for after you die

The Rules of Intestacy, which govern who gets what if you die without making a Will, are very strict. For example, if you have children, they may inherit even if you would prefer your spouse to inherit everything first. Additionally, unmarried partners cannot inherit under the Rules of Intestacy – only married spouses and civil partners.

By making a Will, you can be absolutely sure that your final wishes will be followed and your loved ones provided for.

• Make the estate administration process easier for your loved ones

Failing to leave a Will can cause a lot of stress for your loved ones because they will have to deal with your estate without knowing what you truly want. They will be bound by the Rules of Intestacy and the actual process of obtaining probate can be much more time-consuming.

• Minimise the Inheritance Tax due on your estate

Inheritance Tax can devour up 40% of your estate after your tax-free allowance is taken into account. Given the rising value of property and pension entitlements, Inheritance Tax is no longer just a burden for the extremely wealthy.

By carefully structuring your estate in your Will, it is possible to reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax your loved ones will have to pay out of your estate after you die. We can help you explore all possible options, including:

• Leaving your estate to your spouse or civil partner (not only is this option tax-free but your unused allowance will be added to your partner’s)
• Setting up trusts
• Leaving the family home to your dependants
• Leaving money to charity
• Agricultural property relief
• Business relief

• Appoint people you trust to be Executors

The majority of estates must go through a process called probate before your loved ones can receive their inheritance. The people who deal with probate are called Executors (if you leave a Will) or Administrators (if you do not leave a Will). By appointing people you trust to be your Executors in your Will, you can feel confident that your estate will be dealt with properly after you pass away. If you do not leave a Will, you will have no say over who applies to become an Administrator.

• Appoint guardians for your children

You can appoint guardians in your Will so that if you die before your children turn 18 years old and there is no one who has parental responsibility, you can ensure they are looked after by someone you trust.

• Leave money to charity

The Rules of Intestacy do not allow any leeway for your money to go to charity. So, if you support a charity and would like to leave a legacy gift, you can only do this by making a Will or making a lifetime gift.

• Set up trusts

As well as helping you reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax due on your estate, trusts can be used to protect your assets and control how your Beneficiaries use their inheritance. For example, trusts can be used to:

• Provide for children under 18 and vulnerable adults
• Set aside money for your children’s and grandchildren’s education
• Protect your share of your property, where possible, from being taken into consideration for the payment of care home fees
• Control how Beneficiaries can spend their inheritance
• Provide a regular income for Beneficiaries

• Minimise the risk of family disputes

By making a Will and ensuring it is reviewed regularly, you can help your family avoid unpleasant disputes after you die. Inheritance disputes have the potential to tear families apart, so the clearer your final wishes, the easier any issues will be to avoid and resolve.

Why choose our Will writing service solicitors in Loughborough, Leicestershire?

At Johnson Astills, we provide high quality legal services to clients across Leicestershire and beyond. The signature of our service is our user-friendliness and dedicated customer service. When making a Will, our priority is ensuring your wishes are precisely set out so we will explain the law and your options in plain English so you can make informed decisions about how you want to proceed.

As a firm, we are members of the Law Society Lexcel Accreditation Scheme for our excellent client care and legal practice management. Our membership is regularly reviewed by the Law Society to ensure we are maintaining these high standards.

Jane Hinds is a fully accredited member of Lifetime Lawyers. Jane has specialist expertise supporting and advising older and vulnerable clients about Wills and lifetime planning matters. Jane is also an associate member of the Alzheimer’s Society.

Johnson Astills is independently regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Get in touch for advice about making a Will in Loughborough, Leicestershire

For expert-led Will writing services, get in touch with our Will Solicitors by giving us a call at our office in Loughborough, Leicestershire, emailing legal@johnsonastill.com or filling in our enquiry form.