Don t leave your wife and kids with additional expenses and complications.
Individuals who die without an up to date will, or intestate, leave complications and costs to their family and often gift lots of money to the State in what may be avoidable Inheritance Tax (IHT).
The Law Society says that anyone with possessions and family or friends should make a will, no matter of their years. It is especially important if you are not married to your partner, because the law does not accord partners the same rights of inheritance as spouses.
Assets which are jointly owned by unmarried partners on a joint tenancy basis would still pass automatically to the surviving partner under the rules of survivorship. Under the current intestacy rules, an unmarried partner has no rights to any assets that were not jointly owned (although the Law Commission has recently proposed to change this).
Making a will is also essential if you have kids, as you can nominate guardians to care for them.
It is important to create a list of investments, property and debts and their approximate worth. Include your properties, investments, savings, insurance policies and pension.
In addition, consider making individual legacies. Just informing a relative that an item will be his or hers one day could cause problems later.
You should receive professional advice on inheritance tax planning as part of writing your will. Easy measures could save the beneficiaries of more prosperous householders thousands of £’s in taxation.
A vital element of making a will is the appointment of executors to make sure that your will wishes are executed.
You should also review your will every five years or so and whenever your situation are altered by a profound life event, such as wedding, divorce or a birth or death in the close family. Another example would be after a house purchase or move.
Whoever constructs up your will, make sure 1 copy is kept secure or deposit 1 with a probate registry.
Consilium Asset Management LTD provide inheritance tax planning advice in Somerset