Wills & Estate Planning
Securing your family’s future and giving you peace of mind
It’s all too common to put off planning for what should happen when you pass away, but failing to make a proper Will can mean your assets won’t be divided the way you would want after you’re gone. It can also make dealing with your estate much harder on family than it needs to be.
We realise that these are things people would often rather not think about. There can also be a lot of confusion and uncertainty about how inheritance works and what steps you need to take to protect your assets and make sure your loved ones are taken care of for the future.
At Pearson Hards, we can take away that uncertainty and make dealing with these important issues as simple and painless as possible. Our friendly, sensitive Wills solicitors will help you make all the necessary plans, so that everything is clearly set out and you have peace of mind.
We can help you with everything from drafting a Will to reducing tax liabilities and making sure your assets are protected in later years. We are also able to advise on issues such as making a Lasting Power of Attorney if you are concerned about how your financial and personal affairs would be dealt with if you ever lose the ability to manage them yourself.
If you are dealing with the estate of someone who has passed away, our probate and estate administration experts can also guide you through everything you need to do.
Speak to our Wills and estate planning team today
To see how we can help with making or updating your Will, or any other aspect of estate planning, please call now on 020 8949 9500 or you can request a call back at a time to suit you.
How we can help you with Wills and estate planning
We can offer the extensive experience of our wealth management and personal financial planning experts for issues including:
- Will drafting:
- Single & Mirror Wills
- Complex & High Net Worth Wills
- Wills on Divorce
- Cohabitee Wills
- Provision for Disabled Dependants
- Codicils & Will Reviews
- Statutory Wills (where the testator lacks mental capacity)
- Estate and Tax Planning
- Inheritance Tax & Capital Gains Tax advice
- Trusts
- Probate & Estate Administration
- Powers of Attorney (including Lasting Powers)
- Court of Protection
- Guardianship
- Severance of Joint Tenancy
Our Wills & estate planning fees
Fixed fee Wills & estate planning services
We can often agree a fixed price in advance for straightforward Wills and some standard matters, such as drafting Lasting Powers of Attorney. This gives you complete certainty over the costs involved from the outset.
Hourly rates for Wills & estate planning
For more complex matters, where the amount of work involved is less clear from the outset, we will typically charge according to set hourly rates. These rates will vary depending on the complexity of the work and level of expertise required.
For more information about our Wills and estate planning pricing, please get in touch.
Common questions about Wills & estate planning
What happens if I don’t make a Will?
Should you pass away without leaving a Will, your estate will be dealt with under the standard rules of intestacy. This means your assets will be divided amongst your nearest living relatives in a strict order of priority set out by the government.
Under intestacy rules, if you have a spouse or civil partner, they will normally inherit all or the majority of your estate (depending on the total value of assets you leave behind and whether you have children).
Children, grandchildren and any other direct descendants are next in line, with other close relatives such as parents and siblings potentially being able to inherit if you have no surviving spouse, children or other direct descendants.
To find out more about how your estate might be dealt with if you don’t leave a Will, you can take a look at the government’s guide to the intestacy rules.
How often do I need to update my Will?
It is usually a good idea to review your Will at least every 5 years to make sure it still reflects your wishes and your current assets. You may also need to update it if any details have changed, such as the address of an executor or beneficiary of the Will.
You will also likely need to update your Will if you have experienced a significant change in your circumstances e.g. if you have bought a property, had children, or been married or divorced.
It is worth noting that if you have married since your Will was made, it will automatically be ruled invalid and your estate would be dealt with under the rules of intestacy if you fail to make a new Will.
How do I make sure my Will is valid?
For a Will to be valid, it must be:
- In writing
- Signed by you in the presence of two witnesses (who cannot be beneficiaries of the estate or their spouses/civil partners)
- Signed by the two witnesses in your presence and in the presence of each other
Additionally, at the time of making the Will, you must be:
- 18 years old or over
- Of sound mind i.e. able to understand and approve of the Will’s content
- Not under pressure from any other party to create the Will
Why Pearson Hards is the right choice for Wills & estate planning
Our Wills and Estate Planning team is headed by Partner Gemma Hughes, a highly experienced solicitor with an exceptional in-depth knowledge of all areas of inheritance law and related matters.
Gemma is supported by a highly able team who can offer practical, expert advice tailored to your specific circumstances. No matter how complex your estate or the needs of your loved ones, we can make sure everything is taken care of. You can then relax, safe in the knowledge that your family will be looked after for the future.
When it comes to drafting a Will and planning to protect your assets, you will benefit greatly from the high-level technical ability of our specialists. Specialists who know precisely how to make the most of every available scheme to maximise what you pass on to your loved ones.
For other aspects of lifetime planning, such as making a Lasting Power of Attorney, we have the expertise to ensure all of your potential future needs and those of your loved ones are considered, so no likely scenario is left unaccounted for.
Ultimately, we want to give you complete confidence that you have taken all the right steps to safeguard the future of your estate and your loved ones.
Speak to our Wills & estate planning lawyers in New Malden, Surrey now
Looking to secure a worry-free future for your family? Please speak to us in complete confidence today.
To see how our approachable and incredibly knowledgeable experts can help you, call now on 020 8949 9500 or request a call back at a time to suit you.