As we approach the new year it is a good time to start thinking about making your Will.  Having a Will is important to protect your family and ensure your assets go to the right people, but particularly so if there have been any changes in your home, family or marital circumstances. The Law Society recommends that “Everyone should have a Will, but it is even more important if you have children, you own property or have savings, investments, insurance policies or you own a business”.

Roughly 70% of people die without having a Will in place. It is important to have a Will because:

• If you die without having a Will in place, the law dictates what happens to your estate (your assets) and this may not achieve what you wanted. For example, unmarried partners have no rights in relation to their deceased partner’s estate under intestacy rules.
• Wills can also assist in reducing the amount of inheritance tax you must pay.
• Wills can assist in protecting your assets for a variety of reasons. For example:
  • Care home fee planning
  • Provision for vulnerable dependents
  • Provision for children of previous marriages
• Getting your affairs in order will also make things easier for your loved ones when you are gone.

The first step in making a Will involves choosing the best person to advise you.

Do you know the expertise of the person writing your Will?

It is important that you know who you are instructing to draft your Will.  Well-drafted Wills, by professionals who have knowledge of the law and up-to-date tax rules, can enable you to plan in the most tax efficient way.  An experienced and qualified Wills Solicitor can also draft a Will in such a way as to ensure that your wishes are upheld after your death.

Recent regulation changes mean that Will providers no longer have to be licensed and regulated law firms.  Following this de-regulation of Will services, more unqualified providers have moved into the marketplace.  Given the significance of this legal document to both you and your family, it is important to know the credentials of those who are drafting the Will for you so that you can make an informed choice.

At Jobling Gowler Solicitors, you will only be advised by a qualified solicitor, regulated and authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.  All the team in the Wills, Trusts and Probate department at Jobling Gowler are members of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP).  To become a full member of STEP, practitioners must have a combination of specialist qualifications and experience, including significant involvement at a specialist level with inheritance and succession planning. Tessa Whiskard, Paul Clark and Sarah Bushell are all full members of STEP, demonstrating the quality of the advice provided by Jobling Gowler.

Why Choose Jobling Gowler?

At Jobling Gowler we promise to listen to your needs.

• Jobling Gowler recognise the individual significance of a Will and the importance of getting it right. We offer a personalised and sensitive approach to make the process as easy as possible.
• Jobling Gowler offer a free initial half hour meeting in which we can discuss your individual circumstances and identify the options open to you.

At Jobling Gowler we will provide the best possible advice for you.

• At Jobling Gowler, a qualified solicitor will provide you with expert advice based upon your individual circumstances.
• Jobling Gowler Solicitors offer a free Will review service to check whether your existing Will meets your requirements. You are under no obligation to update your Will.
• Based upon what you decide, a qualified solicitor will draft a bespoke Will tailored to your circumstances.
• All the team at Jobling Gowler Solicitors are members of STEP.
• Jobling Gowler Solicitors have expertise and experience in advising vulnerable clients in all areas of Wills and estate planning. We can also advise in relation to Lasting Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection deputyship and care fee planning, ensuring that the advice you will receive will consider all aspects of your estate planning.
• Jobling Gowler Solicitors have expertise in advising on cross-border estates and are able to offer you expert advice on your Will if you have interests (family, property or businesses) abroad.
• Jobling Gowler is Lexcel accredited by the Law Society reflecting the high standards we achieve in practice management and client care.

Do you know how much your Will costs?

Frequently, we see that un-regulated Will-writers are advertising services at rock bottom prices. Unfortunately, however, it is not always clear what the total fees will be.  It is essential that consumers read the terms and conditions.  Frequently, our research reveals that these Wills often have onerous hidden clauses.  We have seen examples where Will-writers charge large fees for Wills storage and subsequent retrieval from storage.  They routinely appoint themselves as executors (the outcome of this professional appointment means that the deceased’s estate would be undertaken by the Will-writers at their high hourly rate, removing the choice of Estate Administrator).  In addition, we have seen examples where clients have been charged additional fees as a percentage of the estate (at the point of the person’s death).

These surcharges ultimately amount to more than the original quote, and dramatically more than the total cost of writing your Will with a traditional law firm. This serious lack of transparency makes it increasingly difficult to make informed choices.

Why Choose Jobling Gowler?

At Jobling Gowler we promise to be transparent about our fees.

• Jobling Gowler offer a free initial half hour meeting in which we can discuss your individual circumstances and identify the options open to you.
• Jobling Gowler Solicitors offer a free Will review service to check whether your existing Will meets your requirements. You are under no obligation to update your Will.
• Jobling Gowler charge a fixed fee for drafting your Will, which will be quoted to you at the outset.
• Jobling Gowler do not charge a storage fee or a storage retrieval fee.

We understand that making a Will can be a big decision and as a result a decision that we can ‘put off’.  However, the significance of this document is worthy prioritising in 2019.

Make writing your Will your new year’s resolution this year and start today by contacting us for a free initial appointment on 01625 614 250, or by completing the enquiries form below: