Wills
A will is a written document which directs how your assets are to be dealt with after your death. Statistics show that over 75% of the adult population of the UK have not made a will. Taylor Willcocks recommends that anyone with assets over £5,000 should have one.
If you have not drawn up a will you will die intestate which means that your estate will be divided up using rules dating back to 1925. These are out of date and inflexible and can cause huge problems for a surviving spouse or partner and children which a simple will can avoid.
Our wills are tailored for each client. In this world of modern relationships, where children are born to unmarried couples and gay men and lesbians want to see their partners protected, a will can ensure protection for those nearest and dearest to them.
Our will service
We will arrange a face to face interview with one of our experienced solicitors during which any difficulties can be sympathetically discussed. We will then write to you with a full report on your instructions and a draft will for you to consider and amend, if necessary.
For most wills we offer a fixed fee quotation and in straightforward cases this can be as little as £100 plus VAT. For more complicated wills, our fees are based on the time taken to deal with your instructions, charged at the relevant hourly rate and agreed with you in advance. We recommend that your will is reviewed every five years when any necessary changes can be made or codicils added, again for a reasonable fee.
Wills disputes
We frequently receive enquiries about disputing a will. The circumstances in which a will can be successfully challenged are limited but the following are examples which are most frequently encountered.
A will can be invalid due to such factors as mental incapacity or undue influence. If proved the will may be set aside.
A claim may be made under family inheritance legislation where the distribution of the estate does not make adequate provision for the applicant (who must come within a limited range of persons such as a spouse or a child). A claim can also be made for a breach of a valid agreement made before death promising that the claimant would receive the property of the person who has died in return for the provision of services (proprietary estoppel).
Taylor Willcocks has expertise in all these fields and is able to pursue claims through the courts.
For all will and will dispute enquiries, please contact colin.thorpe@taylorwillcocks-cheam.co.uk