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| SOLICITORS ESTATE AGENTS NOTARIES |
| WOOD & MUIR 2 CHURCH STREET, EYEMOUTH, BERWICKSHIRE,. TD14 5DH TEL : 018907 50218 FAX : 018907 51283 EMAIL : info@woodandmuir.com |
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Death and taxes; the two certainties in life. We can’t do much to help you avoid the first, but making a will can ensure that
your family pays as little as possible tax on your death.
Anyone can buy a will form at a local newsagent and prepare a will on their own. There are a number of good reasons why
this is not a good idea, but the main problem is that one mistake or omission, no matter how small, may invalidate the entire
Will. The intention of your will may be very simple but the legal formalities and language required can be complicated and
must be strictly followed. Many words and terms have specific legal meanings which are different from their everyday use.
Trying to write your own will also means that you miss the benefits of discussing your intentions in confidence with an
experienced professional who will have taken his or her clients through the same process many times before, who is trained to
spot problems or inconsistencies which you might miss and to point out possibilities which you may not have thought of.
Making an appointment to prepare a will is not a pleasant job; it means confronting your mortality, something no-one ever
really wants to do, but please don’t put it off. It is essential to plan for the future, both for yourself and for your family. It’s
never to early to seek advice and make plans, and sometimes leaving it until retirement or ill-health is upon you can be leaving
it too late.
your family pays as little as possible tax on your death.
Anyone can buy a will form at a local newsagent and prepare a will on their own. There are a number of good reasons why
this is not a good idea, but the main problem is that one mistake or omission, no matter how small, may invalidate the entire
Will. The intention of your will may be very simple but the legal formalities and language required can be complicated and
must be strictly followed. Many words and terms have specific legal meanings which are different from their everyday use.
Trying to write your own will also means that you miss the benefits of discussing your intentions in confidence with an
experienced professional who will have taken his or her clients through the same process many times before, who is trained to
spot problems or inconsistencies which you might miss and to point out possibilities which you may not have thought of.
Making an appointment to prepare a will is not a pleasant job; it means confronting your mortality, something no-one ever
really wants to do, but please don’t put it off. It is essential to plan for the future, both for yourself and for your family. It’s
never to early to seek advice and make plans, and sometimes leaving it until retirement or ill-health is upon you can be leaving
it too late.
At Wood and Muir we provide you with a will-writing service to suit your needs. Whether it’s simply leaving everything to your
nearest and dearest or setting up mechanisms to reduce your tax liability, we can prepare the appropriate deed and will supply you
with a fee quotation in advance. Before calling in, you might wish to consider –
are happy to offer all our clients free storage in our secure strongroom for their Wills.
nearest and dearest or setting up mechanisms to reduce your tax liability, we can prepare the appropriate deed and will supply you
with a fee quotation in advance. Before calling in, you might wish to consider –
- Chosing executors. An executor is responsible for making sure that the instructions in your will are carried out. You can
appoint your partner, adult children, relatives or close friends. You can also appoint your solicitor or other professional
advisor as executor. - Know your assets. Make a list of all your assets, including bank and building society accounts, property, insurance policies,
shares, valuables etc. - Decide on legacies. Decide what should be left to whom. You can leave someone a specific possession, a sum of money or a
proportion of your overall estate (sometimes called the ‘residue’). If you own property jointly with someone, you should
check whether or not your co-owner will automatically inherit the entire asses on your death. - Will you need a trust? Particularly if some of your beneficiaries are children, it might be wise to place assets in trust until
they reach a suitable age. You might also wish to nominate a guardian for your children. - Funeral. You might want to give instructions for your funeral. If so, these can be mentioned in your will.
are happy to offer all our clients free storage in our secure strongroom for their Wills.