A will is a legal document that determines what will happen to your money and anything else you own, together known as your “estate”, when you die.

Mostly, wills are used to:

• choose how your estate will be shared out
• set up trusts
  - so assets given to minor children or vulnerable adults can be protected
  - to protect your assets from being used for your surviving spouse’s care home fees
• give special gifts, like particular belongings
• appoint guardians for your children
• set out funeral arrangements

A Will gives you peace of mind, knowing that your wishes will be carried out. You can provide for your loved ones and give people the special gifts they will treasure.

For more information on making a Will, please download our FREE GUIDE or contact us at 0800 316 4434, or 01252 361 200 locally, or email us.

Additionally you can use our easy “Free Legal Advice” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.

Dying without a Will is called “dying intestate” and it can cause a lot of heartache, delay and inevitably lead to more cost.

If you die without a Will:

• Your assets will be distributed in accordance with the Law. You will have no control over the distribution of your assets
• Your Spouse or Civil Partner may not be entitled to all of your assets. In certain circumstances, this may result in them having to sell the family home or having to share it with children.
• If you are not married or in a Civil Partnership, but are in a long-term relationship, your partner may not be entitled to anything.
• Some of your assets may be placed in Trust which may result in additional and unnecessary cost.
• If you promise special gifts or presents to people, there is no guarantee that they will get them.
• There will be an increased risk of claims on the estate and disputes arising.
• The state will appoint guardians for any underage children – and these may not be the people you would choose.
• The administration of your estate may be more complicated and is more likely to result in increased cost. There will almost certainly be a delay in dealing with your assets until an administrator is appointed.

Making a Will should ensure that your wishes are clear, thereby avoiding dispute, delay, and increased legal fees.

For more information on making a Will, please download our FREE GUIDE or contact us at 0800 316 4434, or 01252 361 200 locally, or email us.

Additionally you can use our easy “Free Legal Advice” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.

Now. There is no better time than the present.

Whilst some people find the thought of making a Will unsettling, it can be an important part of the happiest occasions in life, and invariably brings significant peace of mind.

You can never be too young to make a Will. The importance of a Will for the parents of young children cannot be underestimated.

You should consider making or updating your Will whenever your circumstances change. This might be when:

• You are expecting a child
  You really should consider making a Will. Your children depend on you to provide for their future, if you should die. It is not just about money – your Will should also specify who will be your children’s guardians if both parents die, so they will be looked after by the people you choose.
• You get married, or enter into a civil partnership
  It is sensible to look over your finances as you plan your life together, and making a Will should be part of that process. You should be aware that if you already have a will, your marriage or civil partnership will make it invalid.
• You are in a happy relationship
  You may find yourself in a happy, lifelong relationship without being married – and if you are, making a Will is an important, meaningful step. Without a Will your partner may receive nothing from your estate.
• You get divorced
  If things change for the worst in your relationship, you may want to consider reviewing and updating your Will.
• Your finances change
  If you are celebrating newfound wealth, congratulations! Now is the time to make a Will. New assets can change the way inheritance tax applies to you, so it is definitely worth making your Will, or updating an existing one. Similarly, if things take a turn for the worse you should consider how this affects the distribution of your estate. Changes in your assets can significantly alter the distribution of your estate in unexpected ways.
• There is a death in the family
  Gifts left to people who have now passed away may pass on to others in ways you had not anticipated or would not like.
• Your children turn 18
  As your children grow, their needs and how you choose to react to those needs will change. No more so than when they become legally entitled to hold their own assets at the age of 18. Provisions that you thought were appropriate may no longer be so. This is a good time to rethink your plans.
• Every 5 years
  You should review your Will on a regular basis and at least every 5 years to make sure everything is up to date. The law changes, and sometimes significantly. In particular changes to the Tax regime can have a significant impact on your planning. Regularly reviewing your Will is very sensible.

Remember – a well drafted Will can only reflect your circumstances at the time that it was made. As your circumstances change, so must your Will.

For more information on making a Will, please download our FREE GUIDE or contact us at 0800 316 4434, or 01252 361 200 locally, or email us.

Additionally you can use our easy “Free Legal Advice” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.

In general, we recommend that you should review your Will on a regular basis and at least every 5 years to make sure everything is up to date. The laws about Wills and Inheritance can change, and sometimes significantly. In particular changes to the Tax regime can have a significant impact on your planning. Regularly reviewing your Will is very sensible.

But it is important to say that you should also consider updating your will whenever your circumstances change. This might be when:

• you are expecting a child
• you get married or enter into a civil partnership
• you begin living together/cohabitating
• you divorce
• there is a death in the family
• your estate changes in value (for example, if you inherit a property or lose money in a business venture)
• your children turn 18

Click here to learn more about the most important times to make a Will.

For more information on making a Will, please download our FREE GUIDE or contact us at 0800 316 4434, or 01252 361 200 locally, or email us .

Additionally you can use our easy “Free Legal Advice” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.

You may see advertisements for very inexpensive Wills, and it might make you wonder

“Are all Wills created equally? Will they all protect my loved ones to the same degree?”

“Is the price shown really what I will pay? Or will I be sold things I don’t need in the process?”

“Can I trust these people with the financial welfare of my family when I’m gone? Will they still be around?”

Just like you, the Law Society is concerned by the absence of regulation for Will writing and the damage that the absence of such protection can have on the public. It has launched a campaign to warn the public of the main problems of using completely unregulated Will Writers, namely:

• overcharging and/or tying in an expensive estate administration package at the time that the Will is written; and
• fraudulent activity linked to administering an estate;
• failure to properly protect and preserve the Will;
• errors in the Will document leading to difficulties with probate and administering the estate;
• service issues such as unnecessary delays, failure to keep beneficiaries informed of progress and providing deficient costs information;
• errors in the process of handling of a person’s estate after death.

The Law Society adds:

“Many consumers are unaware that anyone can operate as a will writer and draft Wills and administer an estate without having to adhere to any guidelines or provide consumer protections. Further, in practice many of those who draft wills are entirely unregulated; they are not subject to any regulation and are free, if they choose, to prepare wills and administer an estate without any training or insurance protection”

What could be worse than having taken the time, effort and expense of writing a will, and then having it fail to protect the people you love the most?

Pinto Potts Solicitors are fully regulated by the Law Society and strictly adhere to the codes of practice with respect to the writing and storage of wills. We have helped over 10,000 families and individuals protect what is precious to them, and to have complete peace of mind. Let our Solicitors help you today!

For more information on making a Will, please download our FREE GUIDE or contact us at 0800 316 4434, or 01252 361 200 locally, or email us.

Additionally you can use our easy “Free Legal Advice” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.

Imagine if you will, the unfortunate scenario, where you have taken the time to prepare a Will, but upon your death:

• your loved ones are unaware you have a Will, or
• they remember that you made a Will, but do not remember who with?

Unfortunately, these are not unusual occurrences, as a recent survey showed that 2/3rds of people do not know where to find their Parent’s Will.

Pinto Potts can eliminate the possibility of either of these scenarios by registering your Will with the National Will Registry “Certainty.co.uk”. As members of Certainty, we can provide this service at a discounted rate.

Learn more about Certainty at www.certainty.co.uk. In short:

“The main objectives of Certainty.co.uk is to ensure that a person’s Will is not overlooked, lost or untraced following his or her death, and secondly to ensure, as far as possible, a Will is administered in accordance with the testators wishes.

Indeed since 1988 solicitors specialising in Wills & Probate have been calling for a National Will Register. The Certainty Will register, Certainty.co.uk is now fulfilling this need. Thousands of solicitors all over the UK use certainty.co.uk daily, millions of Wills are being registered, and the public use Certainty every day and night of the week to search for missing Wills and also register their own.”

For more information on making a Will, please download our FREE GUIDE or contact us at 0800 316 4434, or 01252 361 200 locally, or email us.

Additionally you can use our easy “Free Legal Advice” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.

Karin Cox Putker and Kevin Valler are Pinto Potts Wills & Probate expert Solicitors.

By clicking on the boxes below, you will be able to view their biographies.

Feel free to contact Karin or Kevin to discuss any question you may have at 0800 316 4434, or 01252 361 200 locally, or email us. We’re here to help you.

Whether you would just like to speak to us for more advice, or you would like to instruct one of our Solicitors to help you, please call us at Freephone 0800 316 4434 or locally at 01252 361 200 or email us.

Additionally you can use our easy “Free Legal Advice” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.

Pinto Potts offers over 25 years of expert and affordable Wills & Probate experience.

Pinto Potts can provide a high quality yet affordable service with:

• Law Society accredited Solicitors
  - Not unregulated Will Writers
• Experienced, Professional and Friendly Staff
• Registration of your Will on a National Database
  - Help your loved ones to find your Will
• Home Visits
• FREE Will Storage

We pride ourselves on making the whole process as convenient and easy as possible. Our qualified Solicitors will be happy to meet you in our local offices, or visit you in the comfort of your own home, at a time that suits you.

As part of the Will writing process:

• we can advise you about setting up all types of trusts and the benefits and implications of doing so.
• if you are a trustee we can advise you of your duties and obligations and assist you with the administration of the trust.
• we can assess the impact of Inheritance Tax on your estate and discuss ways in which that impact may be lessened.

Pinto Potts have helped thousands of families and individuals protect what is precious to them. For more information on making a Will, please download our FREE GUIDE or contact us at 0800 316 4434, or 01252 361200 locally, or email us.

Additionally you can use our easy “Free Legal Advice” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.