There Are Many Situations When You Will Need To Consult Wills And Probate Solicitors So It Is Best To Be Prepared
Summary
Nobody wants to think about their death but unfortunately it is something that will happen to all of us. It is a good idea to make a will so that your estate can be passed on to those that you love. Using the right solicitor is very important.
Wills and probate solicitors are legal experts who specialize in helping people to create wills. They are also tasked with ensuring that the wills and testaments of their clients are upheld. So, why do you need these professionals? If you do not know, read on.
First, it is important for you to have a will as long as you are an adult. The will, will contain all the wishes that can be carried out by those you are going to leave behind when you depart. You can indicate your personal wishes on the funeral and burial arrangements as well as how you would want your estate to be distributed. Your estate is basically all your physical possessions, including, property, trust funds and money that may have been tied up in your savings accounts. If you have young children, you can specify who will raise them on your will, and even use it to set up a trust fund for them.
Although it is perfectly fine to simply construct a will on your own, it can create complicated problems in some cases. One or several of your dependants can contest the will once you pass, which can result to lengthy legal battles between your loved ones. Such fights over your property can generate into bitter feuds that can tear your family apart. As a caring person, you would not want to see your loved ones fighting over your property. This is where wills and probate solicitors come in.
A probate solicitor can help you to come up with a binding legal document detailing how your assets are going to be distributed among your dependants. This will ensure that your estate does not become a source of friction between your friends and family members. A will is a must, especially if you have some substantial assets. If you do not have relatives or dependants who you would want to leave your property to, you can indicate a charity that can benefit from it. Note that, your property will be taken by the state if you do not create a will.
The other case where you will need a probate solicitor is when your personal circumstances change. Right now, you may already have a will in place. However, if you enter into a new relationship, or get a new family member, you will have to come up with a new will. The probate solicitor will guide you on how you can include the new family member into your will. This will ensure that he/she will not be discriminated when you are no longer around. If you had a will, but you have since gotten married, this will is no longer valid. You need to consult a competent probate lawyer to help you come up with another will.
If you have acquired additional property, a new business or if your assets have tremendously appreciated, you may need to hire a probate solicitor to help you change your will to reflect your true worth. This will ensure that your dependants do not fight over assets that were not included in the will. Lastly, if you are divorced, but you have not drawn up a will, your possessions, finances and property may end up with your former partner. Wills and probate solicitors can help you to avoid such situations.
Resource
There are more and more cases of deaths occurring where there is no will written which means that assets are frozen and go into probate. By using high quality probate solicitors this can be avoided when the person is still alive with the writing of a professional will and testament that discloses how the estate should be divided. Going through probate after someone has died is a headache as it requires many forms to be completed and meetings with government agencies before any assets can be released.