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Write a Will in Mayfair

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Making a Will is the start for your estate planning

Mayfair is not only coverts the prime location on the monopoly board but also commands special attention for estate planning and Will writing.

For the self-made millionaires or those born into wealth it is sensible to start your estate planning as early as possible as the techniques used in your life time are invariably more effective than those that can be instigated on death.

freewills2 Write a Will in MayfairOur Mayfair based Legal Consultants endeavour to keep in constant contact with our Members throughout the duration of their lives, starting with the original Will instruction and plan for the disbursement of assets through all of lives changes, good or bad.

This rapport leads to the most effective Will writing and precision with gifts and use of Trusts to maximise tax-efficiency.

If you prefer us to deal with your financial adviser or concierge we will happily converse with them on the Will writing process and requirements in the initial stages so you can concentrate on your day-to-day financial affairs.

In fact, the whole service can be tailored to meet your bespoke needs including lunchtime, evening and weekend Will writing visits if required. Please do not however be fooled into thinking that Will writing is for the grey and balding, it most certainly isn’t.

The typical profile of our customers is a 2.4 young family, mid-thirties to mid forties employed in the City.

If you want your assets to go to a good home or to preserve a family presence in Mayfair for generations to come, call our Mayfair consultants today and start your estate planning T: 020 7993 2044or simply complete our free quote form.

Niche Will Writers Mayfair | Niche Wills in the Mayfair Area

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Power of Attorney in Putney

May 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Having a Lasting Power of Attorney can make your life in Putney easier.

Putney is located west of London and is also in close proximity to Fulham and Chelsea football grounds. However, Putney is probably most famed for the starting point of the Oxford versus Cambridge boat race. The echoes of the cox’s voice projecting down the loud speaker in rhythmic fashion blurting ‘stroke, stroke’, can be heard on the river’s banks

freewills2 Power of Attorney in PutneyThere is of course a far more serious connotation to the word ‘stroke’. Strokes can happen in an instant and have a devastating effect on the victim. A stroke can result in partial or permanent paralysis and have long-term effects on a person. A stroke can take different forms but broadly speaking it is the cutting off of blood flow to the brain which can result in several effects to walking, speaking, paralysis on one side of the body often resulting with a drooping of one arm or one side of the face. Sudden painful headaches may also be a symptom and Victims of strokes can suffer long-term physical disabilities.

A Lasting Power of Attorney can prove to be invaluable at this stage or for other diseases that affect the brain. Our Putney based Will writing Consultants are instructed to mention the usefulness of the Lasting Power of Attorney document in ever Will appointment. We believe this is best practice as it operates along similar lines to a Will whereby you are granting authority to someone else ‘an attorney’ to deal with your affairs when you are unable.

There are two main types, both of which are available to the residents of Putney:

Personal and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorneys
The Personal and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney is available to the residents of Putney and across London. It in effect places your appointed attorney in your position, as if they were the patient. The doctors are then duty bound to consult with the attorney on the method of treatment and any steps or decision along the way. This is only operative once the loss of mental capacity is proven.

Property and Financial Lasting Power of Attorneys
The Property and Financial Lasting Power of Attorney is also available to the residents of Putney. This grants the attorney for rights and permissions to deal with all your finances. For instance, they can directly communicate with the providers and banks on your accounts and mortgages. Unlike the Personal and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney this is can be turned or and off irrespective of the loss of mental capacity. This can for instance be of great help if you leave Putney for a few years and live abroad and you want someone to be able to look after your SW15 property whilst you are away.

If you want to find out more we will happily arrange for a consultation from our Putney based Will writing Consultants.

Niche Wills Lasting Power of Attorney in Putney | Putney Will and Lasting Power of Attorney Writers
www.nichewills.co.uk
T: 020 7993 2044

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Write your Will and protect your Pets

May 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Wills and Pets

Battersea is famed for its kennels and looking after stray dogs and cats or simply looking after your pets whilst you are away on holiday. What happens though if the delegate of the welfare of your pets becomes much more permanent, for instance should you die?A Will can be a very cold and calculated document if it is drawn up without the help of a caring Will Writer. At Niche Wills our London based Will writing Consultants pride themselves on going that extra mile so that the every detail that is important to animal lovers is recorded.freewills2 Write your Will and protect your Pets

The start point would be to decide on the guardians for your pets. Sadly, most people tend to think of their worldly goods when it comes to Wills. Our London based skilled Will draftsman are trained to extract the really important issues as well. For instance, it might be right for your brother to inherit the family painting but does that necessarily make him the most appropriate personal to look after your Siamese kittens. The sheer nature of having to record this in writing allows you to consider the eventuality rationally in your lifetime as to who that person or persons may be. It might be they have pets of there own. Either way you are also prompted to discussing this with them and they might not want any more.

The Will also lets you write down specific instructions such as dietary requirements.

Furthermore, as an animal lover you probably appreciate that veterinary costs can be very expensive. The Will allows you to leave a monetary gift know in the Will writing trade as a ‘pecuniary gift’ to the new pet owner. To ensure the money is used for the purpose intended we could set up a trust specifically detailing what the money is to be used for such as upkeep, veterinary costs and burial expenses. Trusts last for a maximum of 125 years so you will need to bear in mind life expectancy as some animals and reptiles, such as tortoises, may live for longer.Making a Will is also appropriate if you want to give to recognised pet charities such as Battersea Dogs home or some other London based charities. Alternatively, someone like the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Horsham, West Sussex. Our London based consultants have full details of the charities and will happily point you in the right direction if you are stuck.

If you want to find out more we will happily arrange for a consultation from our London based Will writing Consultants.

Niche Wills London | Will Writers | T: 020 7993 2044

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7 Year Rule and Inheritance Tax

May 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

writeawill 7 Year Rule and Inheritance Tax

Potentially Exempt Gifts and Exempt Gifts

Inheritance Tax is a burden that more and more of us are having to shoulder. Why? Well the individual Inheritance Tax nil rate band is set at a mediocre £325,000 and nearly 15 million homes in isolation are valued higher than this figure, and the excess is subject to 40% tax bill.

So how do you set about trying to minimise the impact on your loved ones. Well the good news is spouses are exempt from an inheritance charge. So this message is really directed at unmarried couples or indeed beneficiaries further down the line such as children.

7 Year Rule is classified as ‘a potentially exempt gift’ and is perhaps the most common way of reducing IHT.  The gift can be of any value and it is accepted that if the gift was 7 years ago the duration was sufficient enough to show it as in fact a genuine ‘gift’ and not a last minute attempt to defraud the Government, and will therefore should be free of inheritance tax. Should the donor die during the seven year period then there will be an Inheritance Tax charge which is on a sliding decreasing scale and is illustrated by the table below:

Gift and Death Charge Applied Effective IHT Charge
Year 1 100% 40%
Year 2 100% 40%
Year 3 100% 40%
Year 4 80% 32%
Year 5 60% 24%
Year 6 40% 16%
Year 7 20% 8%
Year 8 onwards 0% 0%

7 year gifts obviously require a degree of planning and should be considered is soon as the gift is no longer required by the donor.

Houses that are owned singly by the donor or on a ‘tenancy-in-common’ basis can be gifted on the same basis. If they donor continues to live there though it is unlikely to qualify as a potentially exempt gift as there is still a genuine interest in the property.

If the person is uncertain whether they will survive for 7 years it is often prudent to write a special 7 year decreasing term assurance. This is called a ‘gift inter vivos’ life policy and the amount of cover is reduces in line with the Inheritance Tax reduction over the 7 years, thus leaving the gift ‘free of taxes’ as intended. Furthermore, the gift inter vivos should be written in trust so that the proceeds are paid out instantly, if it is not it will be subject to the Probate process which could take months.

Other Inheritance Tax exemptions include gifts to charity, wedding or civil partnership gifts (subject to monetary limits), small gifts of £250 to as many individuals as you like.

There is also an annual limit of £3,000 which can be made up of one or more gifts. You can also use any unused annual exempt from the previous year.

There is also Inheritance Tax relief available to deceased owned a business, farm, woodland or National Heritage property.

Niche Will Writers & Estate Planners London | London Will Writers & Estate Planners
www.nichewills.co.uk

internetwills 7 Year Rule and Inheritance Tax

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Write a Will in your Hampton

May 12, 2010 By 1 Comment

Making a Will ensures children from a previous relationship are looked after.

Hampton is perhaps most famous for Hampton Court which was once the home for the most exuberant king ever to rule these fair shores in Henry IIIV.

If you live in Hampton or indeed across the world Henry’s exploits are probably most categorised by his love, however shallow, of women.

As Will Writers in the Hampton area Writing a Will for dear olde Henry would indeed have been time consuming, even if we put aside his abundant wealth.

You see the break up relationships is always difficult and sad but where children are involved it pulls even more at the heart strings and can become complex. Our Hampton based Will writing Consultant invariably comes across instances where the though no fault of anyone relationships have just not worked out. It does not mean that the parent does not care or their children mean any less to them, it’s just the way things sometimes work out.

Writing a Will is probably the most effective way of simplifying any potential gifts to children from previous relationships. You may for instance be reluctant to talk about such issues with your new partner but you have an overwhelming feeling that your child should not be forgotten. Our Hampton Will Writers are trained to be discreet and will happily visit your work place at lunch or indeed on weekends or in the evenings to take down your Will instructions.

Protecting money from the old partner for the sole benefit of the child may be a main consideration and the Will can provide the wrapper for creating a trust to do just that.

In fact Making a Will is the best way to ensure your children’s welfare is protected after you are gone. Act now and make sure you remember the ones that matter most to you.

Niche Wills in Hampton | Hampton Will Writers
www.nichewills.co.uk
T: 020 7993 2044

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Write a Will in your Teddington home

May 12, 2010 By 1 Comment

Making a Will ensures those you love are catered for.

Teddington is a beautiful place with serenity despite being in close proximity to London. This is optimised by Teddington Lock a favourite haunt for those who want to reflect on life. For those that stargaze in moment Writing a Will is a way of demonstrating you care.

Whether they are a walker, fisherman, a boater or just a sightseer somehow Teddington Lock makes heaven feels that little bit closer.

Making a Will sounds morbid and off-putting but without a Will Probate becomes more problematic and overwhelming at a time when you loved ones are trying to grieve.

As well as giving clear instructions as to the beneficiaries of your estate, a Will can also eliminate ambiguity and counteract a challenge from a family member who you do not want to benefit from your worldly possessions. Our resident Teddington Legal Consultant will help you make your Will in such a way to make your intentions clear. Everyone falls out from time-to-time and sadly sometimes it is not reconcilable. If you feel this way about someone why should they be ahead of the ones you love in the pecking order.

The Government does not know anyone intimately, or indeed even attempt to do so, so they apply a standard set of rules known as ‘intestacy’. It is crude as best and caters mainly for those of closest blood line. A Will on the other hand allows for ‘exclusions’.

Excluding someone from a Will is a minefield and indeed in this instance we would insist on a home visit by our Teddington Legal Consultant to make you aware of the pitfalls and certain remedies that may help such as a heartfelt letter of wishes to sit alongside the Will.

Don’t be fooled if someone has fallen out with you they are more likely to contest the disbursement of your estate, use that moment by Teddington Lock to collect your thoughts and call is and we will help to put them down on paper by Making a Will. Our Teddington Legal Consultant will be able to answer any questions you have, fill in the forms and put your mind at rest, and importantly ensure those you love are catered for.

Niche Wills in Teddington
www.nichewills.co.uk
T: 020 7993 2044

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Making a will in Richmond

April 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Wills in Richmond & Greater London

Niche Professional Will writing Services extends to all areas of Greater London Including Richmond which is one of London’s more idyllic settings.  

Richmond is famed for its lively river banks and this attraction has contributed to drawing nearly 175,000 residents to the area. It is also quintessentially English with rowers and a white British population that is over 75% of all the residents.

Generations upon generations have stayed true to the area and many would have benefited from substantial inheritances. With the way that Inheritance works they may well have experienced being clobbered by 40% tax in the process of receiving the gift from a deceased loved one. The Conservatives are promised to ease up this onerous amount in their manifesto, but Gordon Brown has already played his cards by keeping the exempt band (Nil Rate Band) at the same level for the next few years, effectively a reduction in real times when you allow for inflation.

As Will Writers that cover the Richmond area we often find we spend more of the Will consultation devising solutions to ways to offset the potential IHT burden. Seven year lifetime gifts and the use of annual exemptions wrapped in the protection of Trusts are just some of the ways to stop the Government from earning out of this extortionate method of taxation. When you write a Will you appreciate just how much you own and it alerts you to the pitfalls of letting the Government decide the disbursement of your hard earned money.

If you want to find out more call T: 020 7993 2044 or simply complete our free quote form.
Niche Will Writers Richmond and Greater London

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Making a Will in your Twickenham home

April 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Twickenham Wills & Trusts

Making a Will is often the catalyst for your family to consider protecting themselves for generations to come.

Twickenham is an Anglo-Saxton name that dates back to circa 700A.D, now of course it more commonly associated with Rugby Union, being the home of the English Team. In fact, the impressive Twickenham stadium has been the venue for every England home match since 1910 including the memorable 2004 World Cup victory for England. And, unlike new Wembley, which has been constantly heavily criticized by the football fraternity for supporting too many events, Twickenham has managed to preserve itself as a sole code.

The sport of rubgy is symbolic of middle-England with most players first experiencing the joys of the game in single sex fee-paying schools. Wills are also associated with families down the generations in Twickenham with the same social-economic grouping. 

So why is Making a Will so important to the residents of Twickenham. Well put simply the greater the affluence the more possessions and assets there are to disburse. English heritage such as paintings are synonymous with the artifacts that can be passed onto someone who would really appreciate them rather simply fall into the Estate and be sold. It also removes potential family aguish as the Will makes clear the intended beneficiary.

The homes are often high in value, and our Will Writers have regularly seen the desire to serve the tenancy of the property into what is known as ‘tenancy in common’. This allows the owners to specify their share of their Twickenham property in percentage terms rather than simply joint owners. This legal change, which we can handle in-house, means your portion of the house may be gifted under the seven year lifetime gift rules to potential reduce the Inheritance Tax bill.

Our Will service is personal and we would be only too happy to visit your Twickenham home to assess your requirements. Our in-house legal experts will then write your Will and send it to home Twickenham home by special delivery within 21 days. So realistically within a month you will have the peace of mind of knowing your legacy will fall into the hands you intended.

Arrange for your Will to be written today. Call now to book your Will appointment in the comfort of your Twickenham home, there is someone ready and willing to take your call right now on T: 020 7993 2044or simply complete our free quote form.

Niche Will Writers Twickenham | Will Writers in the Twickenham Area

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Will Writing in Sutton

April 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Wills in Sutton, Greater London

Niche Will writing Services extends to all areas of Greater London Including Sutton which is part of outer London.

The demographics of Sutton show that there are inside the Top 100 areas (out the 376 measured by the census) for co-habiting couples.

Under the Labour Government we have seen the divide on Inheritance Tax privileges between married / civil partners and co-habiting couples, and it is something that the residents of Sutton should be made aware of.

In 2006 the exemption on inheritance taxation ceased being an isolated and individual tax  for married couples and civil partners. The ‘nil band rate’ as it is more commonly known which currently stands at £325,000, if unused, will now be transferred and added to the spouses £325,000 band. This means that their children and Estate will only be hit with an Inheritance Tax bill over £650,000. Conversely and importantly for the co-habitants of Sutton and others across London and England this does not apply to them. That’s right even if you have been living with the same partner for all your adult life.

So what can be done to redress the balance? Well the best place to start is to make a Will.  A Will allows you to determine the beneficiaries you want to benefit from your £325,000 tax exemption in an efficient way. Then you may want to consider the use of IOU Trusts to take assets out of your estate but benefit from loaning them back to you.

The important thing with Estate Planning is to start in your mid-thirties or mid-forties as this will allow for the solutions to work to the optimum.

Don’t delay as the reality is that the Conservatives are even more pro-marriage so should they get in power on 6th May 2010 expect a greater disparity in taxation.

If you are co-habiting you should really call now to find out more T: 020 7993 2044 or simply complete our free quote form.

Niche Will Writers Sutton | Will Writers in the Sutton Area

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Making a Will in Surbiton

April 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Wills and Trusts in Surbiton

Niche Professional Will writing Services extends to all areas of Greater London Including Surbiton which is one of Surrey’s leafy gems.

Surbiton is often associated with professionals with young families with 67% of the households owner occupied. Many of the affluence has been accrued through hard endeavour which has meant even more to those associated.

Like all wealth that is amassed it needs to be safeguarded. Most people will take the normal steps of taking insurance against their lives and income but sadly nearly 70% of people fail to recognise the importance of having a Will. To the uninformed a Will is an inventory of assets, however when combined with the expertise of one of our highly trained Legal Consultants it can easily become an estate planning tool that can disburse assets in a tax efficient manner. 

But as well as protecting your financial legacies it can also reflect your intentions. For instance, in Surbiton, there are many opportunities for our children with grammar and independent schools on the doorstep which will help them aspire to the dreams you have for them. But what if no body knows this was your ideal plan? Somehow it never came up in conversation and the kids were too young then to understand. Where else what you record such a thing? Well the answer is in a Will along with all your wishes on your child’s upbringing.

To find more on how a Will could benefit you and your family call now on T: 020 7993 2044 or simply complete our free quote form.

Niche Will Writers Surbiton | Will Writers in the Surbiton Area

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