Posts Tagged ‘Will Writing’
What do I do with my personal belongings?
What happens to your personal belongings after your death is entirely up to you – as long as you have made a will. You may want your diaries and fading love letters piled on a bonfire to save embarrassment. You may want your bits and bobs given to charity. You may want everything sold and…
Read MoreHow long does probate take to get?
Online applications for grants of probate should be processed within eight weeks, the government now says. But don’t forget that a huge amount of work has to be completed beforehand. The estate must be valued. That means contacting the deceased person’s bank, building society and any other financial institutions to discover their work at time…
Read MoreWhat is probate?
Probate is the official proving of a will – which probably leaves you none the wiser. In layman’s terms, probate is the whole process of dealing with the estate of someone who has died. Many people believe that as long as they are named as an executor in a will, they can just plough on…
Read MoreWhat happens to my pets?
We’ve previously explained that you can’t leave money in your will to your cat or dog as pets are classed as personal possessions. But what you can do is leave money to a friend or family member so they can care for them. If you are bequeathing your pets to a named person in your…
Read MoreWhat happens if my executors died at the same time?
Reserves are vital when running the Bank of England or managing a football team or choosing executors. The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street must be able to handle runs on sterling and Pep Guardiola needs to have a handful of multi-million-pound stars on the bench in case of injury. And yet many people pick only…
Read MoreFuneral Wishes
You may want your ashes buried under the centre spot at Wembley or sprinkled on the top of Mount Everest. Perhaps you want your body launched into the Solent on a blazing Viking longboat (as outlined in a previous posting – putting the “fun” into funeral requests!) As long as it’s legal, anything is possible…
Read MoreGeographic Limits
Please don’t try this at home, as they often say on TV to placate the health and safety brigade following the broadcast of a dangerous stunt. Writing your own will is fraught with danger at the best of times but attempting to do so when you own assets in another country should really be left…
Read MoreWhat is covered within my Will, and what isn’t?
Leaving all your money to your cat would probably put your family’s noses out of joint. But is it actually legal? To cat lovers everywhere, sorry. Your beloved moggy, like any other pet, is classed as a possession and cannot be named as a beneficiary in your will. You could, of course, leave your money…
Read MoreWhat is a Codicil?
Think of your will like your house. If you want a bigger kitchen, putting aside planning permission and whether you have the room, you may build an extension. If you need two extra bedrooms, you could build an extension but moving to a bigger house may be more practical. A codicil is an extension to…
Read MoreWhat happens if we all die together?
Tragedies happen, I’m afraid. Just pick up any newspaper or watch the news on TV. Yes, the chances of you personally being involved are low. But planning for all eventualities can at least ease some of the pain of those you leave behind. Something often overlooked in do-it-yourself wills is a residue clause. But it’s…
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