What is a Will?
A Will is a legally binding document that determines who should manage the distribution of your estate in the event of your death and who will be the beneficiaries.
Most people delay writing a Will believing it’s something you need to do when you get older or if you are particularly wealthy. In fact, the Government estimate that almost two thirds of people in the UK die without writing a Will, meaning they die intestate. If this happens, it is the Government who determines who should inherit the estate under the laws of intestacy and the next of kin would need to apply for ‘letters of administration’. So people who you may not have chosen yourself could benefit more than the people you love the most.
So the question is, ‘do I need a Will?’ Well, if you want to decide who will take care of your children and ensure your loved ones are provided for after your death, then the simple answer is YES.
Trusts
A Trust is a legal arrangement whereby a person (a Trustee) is made legally responsible for the assets of another (a Settlor). The role of the Trustee is to ensure the chosen beneficiaries receive the assets in accordance with the Settlor’s wishes.
Many people use Trusts as effective estate planning to avoid lengthy probate, to reduce the impact of inheritance tax and to ensure that the proceeds are paid to the right people as quickly as possible.
There several different assets that can be written into Trust. These are:
- Property and land
- Financial assets
- Life insurance
- Personal property
If you would like more information about Wills or Trusts or think you could benefit from speaking to an estate planner, please get in touch today. We will then be able to refer to you a Third Party provider who will be able to go through your options with you.*
*Neither Fresh Financial Consultants Ltd nor PRIMIS Mortgage Network is responsible for any advice provided by a Third Party
WILLS AND TRUSTS ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY
