Wills
Making a will is one of the most important things you can do in preparation for when the time comes. Without it, you may well leave financial problems, family disagreements and a tax bill for those you love; with a will in place, you can make sure your estate (money, property, possessions and investments) goes where you want it to, and even use it to avoid inheritance tax.
A will is the only way you can make sure your wishes are followed, and protects your loved ones. If you die without one, your estate will be shared out as defined by law, which could mean it’s divided between your spouse and children, rather than all to your spouse – and if you’re not married, your partner could even get nothing.
We are Members of the Society of Will Writers
There are two types of will: basic and tailored.
Basic Wills
A basic will is typically what you’d find with online wills, where you have to create it yourself. It offers nothing more than the simplest of arrangements, so you can only choose who will carry out your wishes, what you want to leave to whom and possibly what you want at your funeral. It’s nowhere near as comprehensive as a tailored will, which is what we offer at Aiker, so we can make sure nothing is left to chance.
Tailored Wills
These are designed to be much more specific than a basic will, and are ideal if you have a complex estate, more than one family, want to protect your children’s inheritance until they reach a certain age or you aim to leave a property or gift to someone separate to your estate. You can also give someone the right to live in your house without them inheriting it, or leave money for a particular purpose such as weddings, mortgages or education. A tailored will can also create specific trusts, which can prove extremely tax-efficient.
Making a will is essential if you want to protect those you care about. We can answer your questions and make sure you have the right will for you and your loved ones, for peace of mind they won’t face problems when the time comes.
It’s the perfect first step to preparing for the future, so contact us now to arrange a home visit.
When circumstances change
Making a will is one thing; but keeping it up to date is just as important.
There can be all sorts of reasons for changing your will – additions to the family, a family dispute, new charitable interests or even just a change of heart. Normally, once a will has been signed and witnessed, it shouldn’t be amended. However, for minor amends or updates (such as a change of address), a codicil document can be used; but for major changes, you’ll need to write a brand new will and destroy copies of the old one.
If you need to change your will, our experts can discuss the options with you, and if necessary arrange for a new tailored will to be written to replace your previous one.
Just get in touch to arrange a home visit.
Talk to your Aiker Legacy Adviser
Arrange a home visit now to discuss your current situation, and which options might suit you best, and how regular reviews can help you be sure your legacy isn’t at risk. The whole process is easy, and starts by simply giving us your details.