Cohabiting, where couples live together without getting married, is becoming more common. If you’re one of the 6.8 million people currently cohabiting, it’s worth considering what will happen when you’re gone. Here’s how you can protect your family when you cohabit....
What if Terry Venables hasn’t created a will?
While I’m the will writer here at Westcotes Wills, we’re part of a larger community of will writers. If someone dies but their family can’t find their will, the National Will Register will often contact will writers in their area to investigate. It looks as if Terry...
Case study: deputy order application to move to a care home
We often talk about how creating a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows your loved ones to make decisions for you when you no longer can. However, sometimes, we can’t create an LPA because it’s too late. We’re helping an elderly lady and her family who found...
How do you know if there’s a trust in a will?
If you’ve been appointed executor for a loved one’s will, you have a legal duty to ensure their wishes are followed. Trusts are increasingly common in wills, and you must deal with them properly to avoid problems further down the line. How can you tell if there’s a...
Why you need to pay attention to Trusts
It’s increasingly common to find a Trust in a will, but most people don’t understand what they are or how to deal with them. Property trusts, in particular, are really common, and they must be dealt with properly, or it can cause a lot of problems. Here are some...
When do you need probate?
There’s a lot to organise when someone close to you dies. Once you’ve arranged the funeral, you’ll also need to sort out their affairs. If they made a will, the executors must ensure their wishes are followed. Probate can be part of this process but isn’t always...
Why you need a Letter of Wishes with your Will
If you’ve never heard of a Letter of Wishes before, you’re not alone, even if you’ve already made a will. We think they’re an essential part of the process as they can help to ensure that your wishes are carried out when you’re gone. Here are a few reasons why you...
Creating a letter of wishes with your lasting power of attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (or LPA) lets your loved ones manage your affairs if you can’t do it yourself. Your LPAs can cover your finances, health and welfare or both. You can simply create an LPA if you want to, but we recommend writing a letter of wishes too. Read...
Your executors: how you can choose the right people for the job
When you create your will, you need to think about who your executors will be. They’re the people that will ensure that your wishes are carried out when you’re gone. You might automatically decide to nominate a close relative but are they the right choice? Here are a...
New rules are coming about the registration of trusts
Trusts are becoming an increasingly common part of people’s wills and financial planning and can be created for lots of different reasons. The rules are changing in September so here’s what you need to know if you already have a trust in place or are planning to...
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