Contact us today to discuss your requirements (evening appointments available): 01189 776 064 / info@afps.co.uk

Will Writing

We're here to help you leave things as your wish

Why you need a Will

Everyone should have a Will, but 2 out of 3 people have not yet made a Will and those that have, may not have the correct one in place. If you have an existing Will you would like to be reviewed, consider our FREE Will review service.

An estimated 70,000 people per year in the UK have to sell their homes to pay for care. A large proportion of any inheritance can also be lost in future divorce settlements, to creditors or bankruptcy and unnecessary taxation.

If you own a business or a share of a business then your spouse / partner and children may not inherit your share of a business without a properly drafted Will.

Affordable and Transparent Wills and Estate Planning

Our Fixed Fee Wills and Estate Planning service ensures that our product range is affordable and transparent, all charges are unambiguous and clearly stated. We do not charge any fees for consultation or work per hour, the same price will apply to our products regardless of the complexity of your circumstances. We take the time to understand your circumstances fully and help advise you on how you would like to manage your estate.

We will assess the various legal tax angles available to make sure you’re making the most of Inheritance Tax allowances, along with protecting your estate from other threats such as Marriage After Death, Divorce of Beneficiaries, Creditors & Bankruptcy, Long Term Care Fees & Generational Inheritance Tax. All of these factors are vitality important in order to manage your Estate effectively both before and after death whether your Estate be large or small.

To find out more about our Will Writing services (including a FREE Will Review), call us on 01189 776064 or:

Clear, Thorough & Transparent Wills and Estate Planning to Accommodate Your Needs

All of our Wills are drafted to suit your situation and requirements and a simple Will can often suffice.

Our bespoke wills are drafted to suit your individual situation and requirements and our Fixed Fee Policy ensures that our product range is affordable and transparent, all charges are unambiguous and clearly stated Our experienced team will talk you through your circumstances and wishes and talk you through the options and key aspects to consider.

We do not charge consultation fees or bill per hour, we have a simple pricing structure which is applied to all of our products regardless of the complexity of your circumstances. We take the time to understand your circumstances fully and help advise you on how you would like to manage your estate.

Mirror Wills

Mirror Wills are similar documents created on behalf of a married, civil partnership or unmarried couple. They are virtually identical Wills where one member of the couple leaves their estate to other in the event of their death. Mirror wills can be advantageous for some couples but there are also some drawbacks to this option.

We have outlined a list of some of the pros and cons below but to find out more and speak to one of our expert team about the best option, call us on 01189 776064 or fill in one of these forms:

Mirror Wills

The Pros & Cons...

PROS

Cost Effective

Mirror wills are a good option for some couples as they are simple and therefore cost effective; they are essentially very similar documents drafted for couples that mutually agree to leave their whole estate to each other when the other dies.

Your Partner Inherits Everything

As mentioned above, Mirror Wills are very similar documents drafted for couples that mutually agree to leave their whole estate to the last surviving partner if one of them dies. By agreeing to a Mirror Will you are protecting your partner’s financial future, as they would not necessarily be legally entitled to inherit your estate if you are unmarried.

You Can Provide For Your Children

A Mirror Will can include instructions for both partners’ estates to be left to any surviving children should the couple die at the same time. If you have any children below the age of 18 you can appoint guardians for them in your Mirror Wills, should both parents die.

You Can Name Additional Executors

Usually, the partners are the sole beneficiary in each other’s mirror Will and are also each other’s Executor. An executor is a person named by the maker of a Will to carry out the directions of the Will. In the case of Mirror Wills, additional executors should be named so that both partners’ wishes can be carried out if they die at the same time. Additional executors should ideally be a person trusted by both partners. This may be a family member, a friend or a professional adviser. Each partner is entitled to choose different executors if they wish.

Mirror Wills do not have to be identical

As we have already stated, the key element of Mirror Wills is that both partners have similar desires and terms in their Wills. However, they can have some small differences. When it comes to estate administration and inheritance issues they need to match but they can have some minor variances like additional executors.

Inheritance Tax Allowance

When it comes to Inheritance Tax Allowance everything can pass from one partner to another tax free (although this is only applies to married couples). The Nil Rate Inheritance Tax band is transferable to the surviving spouse. So when it comes to Mirror Wills, the Inheritance Tax allowance of the deceased is passed to the surviving spouse. This amount is then added to the last surviving spouse’s allowance when they die. Therefore, if the estate is valued at less than double the current Inheritance Tax Nil Rate band (currently £325,000), there will be no inheritance tax to pay upon the second spouse’s death.

CONS

A simple Mirror Will won’t protect your home

As most Mirror Wills generally entail leaving everything absolutely to your partner, this can cause issues if either of you require time in a care home. Unfortunately, the costs involved in moving into a care home these days can literally wipe out your entire savings and your home may have to be sold to pay for care fees. This could mean that your children and family would receive very little, or even nothing at all of what you originally intended them to have. When someone enters care they are automatically means tested; and ALL of your assets, including your home are taken into account. Only those who have very few assets will escape the costs of Care. Find out here how we can help protect your home.

Mirror Wills can be revoked without warning

It is important to know that although a couple’s wishes may be identical, their respective wills are theirs alone. Therefore trusting your partner is vital because either of you can change your own will as and when you want and you’re not obliged to tell your partner. This can be significant particularly if, after your death, the surviving partner re-marries or has further children, or their new partner has children of their own. “If you die first leaving your estate to your partner and they subsequently decide to change their will, your children or family could be completely disinherited leaving your home and assets in the hands of someone you have never met.

In order to prevent the above cons in particular and many other scenarios, ‘Bespoke’ Wills & Estate Planning work is essential.

Contact us today to find out more and arrange a free consultation.

FREE Review of Your Existing Will

Find out more

Committed to excellent service

To find out more about how we can help, please call, email or fill-in one of the forms below. We are based in Wokingham, Berkshire and have a growing client base throughout the South East and indeed across the country. For local appointments we can arrange to meet in person at your home and if you are further afield we can arrange a phone call or video conference call at a time to suit you.

Get in Touch

Contact our friendly team and we will arrange your no obligation home visit. We can visit at a time that suits you, day or evening, seven days a week.

We come to you

At your appointment, we’ll listen to your wishes and discuss your options. We explain everything in plain English, so you don’t have to worry about complex legal jargon.

Secure Paperwork

Your Will is drafted by our legal department and sent to you for approval. We will then arrange a second visit ( if needed ) to help you sign your Will.