Write a Will – New Year’s Resolution

Make a Will before another year slips by

Niche Professional Will writing Services extends to all areas of central London Including KT1 and the Kingston area which is one of London’s more prestigious postcodes.

New Year’s resolutions are apparently made to be broken but writing your Will shouldn’t be one of them. Once your Will is written it could last a live time which is more than can be said of the other New Year’s resolutions which can easily fritter out such as attending the gym.

By why write a Will in the first place? Well you probably recently demonstrated how much you care about your loved ones by venturing out in the relentless cold and queuing for presents. A Will shares similar caring traits. It is about putting your affairs in order so that your loved ones are looked after and not over burdened by the practicalities associated with death. And, unlike a present this appreciation of your loved ones will NOT be forgotten.

But I don’t own a lot and I’ll probably write a Will later in life when it warrants it! This is a popular and fraught misconception. Almost everyone would benefit from Writing a Will to protect themselves and their loved ones irrespective of their life stage. For instance, life insurance provides protection, and if you have been sensible you will have taken out a policy to cover your first mortgage. The house or flat you have purchased is unlikely to be your last and inevitably you will require a larger sum assured at the point of purchasing your new property. Same principle applies for Wills – the key is to be protected at all times to reflect your current position. Furthermore updating a Will is very affordable and regrettably no one can predict when you might die.

But it will be so much hassle! Our Legal Consultants will eradicate all the paperwork issues, answer any questions that you have, and explain all the terminology. Furthermore our Legal Consultants provide this Will service in the Kingston-Upon-Thames area and throughout Central London, in fact the Will service is available anywhere inside the M25.

Took book a visit please call T: 020 7993 2044 or simply complete our free quote form.

Wills in Central London W1

Write your Will on Saturdays and lunchtimes at a time convenient to you.

Central London is a jamboree of leisure, working and tourism.  In China Town, Soho to the shopping streets on Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Regent Street we witness the hurly burly of our world with people often six deep on the pavement rushing along.

London, on the face of it, is not a time to stop and reflect on life let alone write your Will.
However, conversely our Central London Legal Consultants find Will writing in W1 quiet productive. Why? Well due to their amenability and flexibility on their Will visiting times in London.

The white collar workers who want their Wills written often chose their lunch hour. We can visit their London office and write a Will in a secluded area. The retail workers, who want Wills written, of which there are many in London such as Marks and Spencer and HMV prefer a simple Costa Coffee Shop to make their Will in. Once we wrote a Will for a married couple from John Lewis who choose the Radisson Hotel Lobby to write their Will in and with so many hotels around such as the Ritz of London, London Hilton on Park Lane, Haymarket Hotel and Claridges to name a few – why not? This approach can also favour Tourists who would prefer not to have their Will written at home.

Writing a Will professionally involves a consultation to get to grips with all your needs and requirements. The Will writing session takes typically one to one-and-a-half hours but we can sub divide the visits between your financial and emotional Will requirements, if that suits your other commitments.  We also are happy to write Wills on Saturdays in London. This  appeals greatly to the retailers, who although used to working unsociable hours, often favour a break from the norm on a Saturday, and can be quiet relaxed frame of mind which can be beneficial when faced confronted with some of the more challenging Will questions such as the guardianship of their children or the gifting of property.   

To find out more about writing your Will on Saturday in London or at another convenient time for you make your call right now on T: 020 7993 2044 or simply complete our free quote form.

Niche Will Writers Central London W1 | Will Writers in all the London Postcode Areas

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Will Writing in Sutton

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

Making a Will in Surbiton

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

Will Writers in Bayswater

Niche Professional Will writing Services extends to all areas of central London Including W2 and Bayswater area which is one of London more prestigious postcodes.

In recent information provided by upmystreet.com 40% of residents live alone. There are also high numbers sharing larger properties. They are typically renting rather than buying, which reflects the more transient nature of these communities. Yes, this is quite a lot of people renting much higher then the national average but what about the other 60%.

Due to Bayswater being a very affluent
area many would-be or current owners need to protect themselves by ensuring they have a valid will and suitable ancillary protection products in place. The current nil rate band sits at £325,000 per person and if you take into account the local property prices and the high income tax rate of many households you can see why getting advice from a Professional Will Writers is certainly sensible.

In Bayswater the average age is also lower then the national rate, with many people often leaving marriage to their late 30s. Without a Will co-habiting couples are exposed as the way that the Government divides estates is based first and foremost on blood line.

When it comes to Will writing or Estate Planning the rule is the sooner you start to plan the better and more structures the outcome. Notice that we have also emphasised the word VALID WILL as many simply do not update their existing documents.

Niche Will Writers can visit all W2 residents at the comfort of their homes within the Bayswater fecundity. Took book a visit please call 020 7993 2044 or simply complete our free quote form.

Free Legal Consultation

Why would you attempt to write a Will on your own? When you consider booking a holiday or taking out a mortgage most people will use an agent or broker for advice.

And, unlike two weeks away or a two year fixed rate where doing it yourself might prove to be a short term disappointment, drafting a Will is your final say for eternity.

At Niche Wills in London we passionately drive home the importance of taking advice when writing a Will. We do not view legal consultation as merely a prudent step but also a means to identify areas that would benefit you and your estate, such as Inheritance Tax planning and holding of assets within a trust.

The legal consultation also can be a forum to ask questions and to gauge the reactions of your partner to ensure that all sides are happy with what is recorded. We find at Niche Wills that this is a consultation is often the source of much debate, which is healthy, and we strive to help the couples confront difficult subjects such as: ‘who are the preferred guardians for their children’, and assist them in drawing a collective conclusion.

Writing a Will is a serious matter and should be done in a relaxed environment outside of daily routine. Our Legal Consultants recognise this and will happily visit at a time that is convenient such as the evenings, weekends or in your work lunch break. What’s more Niche Wills offer a free legal consultation if you live or work in the London area.

Niche Wills in London | Will Writers In London
Members of The Society of Will Writers
www.nichewills.co.uk

Coming of age for Gay Wills

writeawill Coming of age for Gay Wills

Labour will be remembered for the introduction of the Civil Rights Act 2004 which saw equality granted to all including Gay couples.

Gay couples have always made Wills for asset disbursements to the ones they love. However, what the Civil Rights Act did was to put Gay couples on an equal footing so when the recent Inheritance Tax law was introduced there was a financial reason to celebrate Gay marriage apart from the emotional one. So what changed? Well the IHT tax exempt level now transfers to the Gay spouse on death. Effectively doubling the benefit and keeping those valuable pink pounds away from the taxman.

Making a Will can also be the mechanism for recognising a previous life-style, perhaps an ex-wife, who you never fell out with but was not longer right for you. Wills are confidential documents and absolute discretion will be observed. This means that your new partner does not have to be informed any arrangements of your ex if that is what you want.

The Gay appreciation of art and style is often revered above that of heterosexuals. A Will allows for artefacts to be passed to a particular recipient unlike the crude laws of intestacy which do not recognise individuals beyond a set pattern.

Writing a Will should not be attempted without professional legal help from a Will Writer as a poorly written Will may be challenged in Court or indeed fail altogether. To ensure creditability check your firm is a Member of The Society of Will Writers.

Landlords Should Make A Will

Writing a Will is often associated with leaving sentimental objects to a doting nephews or nieces, however the buy-to-let boom in the Noughties witnessed a huge growth in would-be landlords including here in our city, London.

As a London Will Writer I always believe tangible assets help our customers realise the effectiveness of drafting a Will as the commodity is that much more apparent and visual.

Buy-to-lets do have tax implications. If the property is sold capital gains tax applies and if it is kept beyond death then there are likely to be Inheritance Tax implications for your Estate. This level of tax is often further exasperated in London due the typically higher property values. 

The asset itself is of course illiquid in the sense that it is not an investment that can be realised quickly. The house selling process typically takes a few months and this can create major complications when trying to dismantle an Estate evenly to next of kin through Probate. It is also a catch twenty-two as money might be needed immediately to meet the IHT bill yet a fire-sale will mean a reduction in the yield from the sale, enough to make the dearly departed turn in their grave.

A Will can simplify the process as the beneficiary can be identified. For professional landlords this could mean identifying certain properties go to their named children.

It is not always possible to have foresight as death can strike without prior warning. However, it may be worth considering gifting some of the portfolio to children. Lifetime gifts that happen seven years prior to death are usually exempt from inheritance tax.

We at Niche Wills in London, ensure that our Legal Consultants make Wills that take into account portfolios of all sizes and impart their advice on tax mitigation.

To find out more please contact us on:

Niche Wills, Will Writers in London
T: 020 7993 2044

W: www.nichewills.co.uk

Divorced? Then Make A Will!

As London Will Writers we get a clear insight into the unpredictability of people’s feelings towards one and other. For instance, we often sense a greater bond within Will makers that are Divorced than those in current relationships. Sure there are those that truly despise their ex’s and what never consider them when writing a Will, however on the flip side there are those who have seemingly become best of friends. We also witness the unbalanced marital- split where one party appears to have moved on to a much greater extent than the other.

 

Making a Will is empowering and adaptable to legislate for all of these scenarios. If you read on you will formulate your own views on how a writing a Will can reflect your own wishes.

 

Well why is a Will necessary? Many people draft a Will to avoid family squabbles and second guessing in the event of their death. For the families of divorcees this is more likely as there will often be greater magnitude of grey areas which could ultimately culminate into distasteful court proceedings and legal challenges.   

 

Why can it be so messy? Well divorcees are statistically more likely to divorce again. This could mean they have nurtured their own and indeed other siblings along the path of life. How can someone else determine the emotional and material importance you place on each and everyone of them? Logic might suggest that the true-bloodline is favoured but do you discount the other children you have helped raise? And, if so to what extent? The truth is only you can decide the answer to this question and the only place for legal reference is within a Will. A Will is clever for it can specify specific items like a piano to go to the most musical child, it also can divide monetary value by amount or percentage. A skilled Will Writer would be able to took through these and variety of other options to meet your needs when you write a Will.

 

A Will also is the most appropriate medium to specify your dying wishes, which may be to invite or exclude your ex-partner from the funeral. Suffice to say the request must be practical and contain a means of the Executors to contact them. Importantly for the Executors they can justify to sceptical relatives, and indeed the ex-partner, this is what you wanted.

 

You see Making a Will is not only a voice from beyond this world is also shouts what you always wanted to say but were either: too afraid; concerned what others might think; or simply never had the appropriate opportunity to say. If you are Divorced don’t think twice write a Will today as it not only benefits you but the loved ones you leave behind.

 

What is the next step, well Professional Will Writers specialise in making Wills and offer the most favourable terms when compared with traditional solicitors.

For more informtaion on our Will writing services please contact Niche Wills  on 020 7993 2077.

 

 

I bet you don’t have a Will!

Calling all You 30 to 40 Year Old –

Most people will have the impression that drafting a will is reserved for the elderly, however the reality is the impact of not Writing a Will can be felt at an earlier stage in life when the legal system fails to recognise the importance of a person to you, such as someone who cohabits with you.

The media is awash with the down turn in the economy and no doubt the Credit Crunch has impacted on you in some form or another. Adjustments may have been made on our spending habits such as taking much longer to assess the bargains in the shops or trawling the net for the best credit card deals.

In truth many of us are looking at the fractions such as 0.1% AER in savings for the here and now but without a Will wrapped around these extra benefits you could be unwittingly accumulating money to pass onto the Tax Man in the event of your death.

Take it from me it never occurred to me how vital Wills were in tax planning until I saw the lack of provision destroy a family close to me.

We have all seen the cheesy adverts with the old couple being happy and reassured but things have moved on. We are now aware of every single piece of glib news with instant updates filtering to us via dedicated TV channels, social networking sites, texts and the web. Inevitably these centre on the ‘Stars’ that may for instance have fallen off the rails, died young or contracted a terminal disease. Even putting aside fatal accidents and illnesses we cannot escape the plight that we will all die someday. Sorry to be so blunt but everyone thinks it’s never going to be them let alone someone in their family.

As you are reading this you are probably thinking ‘true’, but I do not think I’m alone in not having a Will, and sadly you’d be right with a staggering 67% of people who are eligible not having the provision in place, however on this occasion it is wise to be in the minority.

Now we got that out of the way, please let me advise you about a trend which is taking the nation by storm. Due to the economic climate more and more people have now been forced to plan for the future, and in doing so have taken note of their assets. The demand for life insurance and mortgage payment protection insurance is steadily rising which is understandable as we all feel more vulnerable. But it in other areas where priorities are things seem to be distorted. For example, insuring a boiler or taking out a 2 year guarantee on a TV are often pushed higher up the list in place of a Will which should deserve much higher prestige as it can determine the distribution of assets to save thousands of pounds in inheritance tax.

Why would you choose to ignore something which has such a big impact in friends and families future? The good news is Niche Wills are seeing more and more clients between the ages of 30 to 40 finally realising the need for immediate action which is very encouraging. At Niche Wills we have a tailor made Will writing service for this important age bracket as we believe this is the critical point in someone’s life for Will provision.

This is the perfect time to implement your long term protection strategy and we are able to give full guidance on all aspects of mitigating the financial traumas for your beloved should the worst happen.

Anyway, enough of the sermon! If you are still unsure whether a Will is for you or not below are some poignant points to recap why Writing a Will is in your best interests:

Anyone who fails to make a will cannot control who will inherit their property after death. In these circumstances, the assets will be distributed according to law, the law of intestacy, which is extremely likely to be against the person’s personal wishes. In extreme cases, the entire estate may fall to ‘the Crown’ (Government) instead of the people the client actually wishes to benefit.

By Draft a will the client determines precisely who inherits the property. Importantly, the client can decide who will handle their affairs after death and who will act as guardian for any dependant children who may be left without a surviving parent.

A Will can also be used to express a person’s preferences for burial or cremation and for donating organs or their entire body for medical purposes. Additionally, Making a Will provides an opportunity to reduce inheritance Tax (IHT) liability which is vital where there are meaningful assets.

Still undecided? Read on:

1 – The Government could inherit leaving your family to struggle. 

2 – Your children’s step parent could benefit more from your death than them.

3 – Without a designated beneficiary your prize jewellery and medals could be unwanted and given away or sold.

4 – You may wish to preserve a life by donating a vital organ

5 – You cause a family dispute as they second guess your wishes

6 - Your loved one’s bank account may be frozen until Probate is granted

7 - You want to protect the family home and keep it away from nursing home fees

8 – It makes sense to spent a relative low amount of money now rather than have your loved ones paying substantial legal bills at the emotional time of your death

9 - By Writing a Will in trust your disabled sibling’s inheritance will still be entitled to their benefits

10 - Putting off Writing a Will is unwise as illness can affect everyone including the young

As you can see writing a simple will helps to protect you in the long terms and every effort should be made to plan for you future now rather then later.

Niche Will writing service has been formed to ensure perceptive 30 – 40s  can write a will knowing that its being administered by a fully qualified wills expert.