Legal Services

Making a Will

Making a will is one way of being sure that your money and possessions will be dealt with as you wish after your death. In some cases, if you do not leave a will, the results can be disastrous for your family or close partners - your money may not end up where you intended. If you own a house or flat, it is particularly important to leave proper instructions.

Don’t leave it too late to deal with these matters!

Some common questions

• How do I make a will?
  Although D-I-Y will forms are available, these do not give you proper advice on what to do with your “estate” - that is, your money and other assets. To make sure you get things right, See your Solicitor First. He or she will take you through the necessary steps.
  
• How much will it cost?
  This will vary according to how complicated your financial affairs are. If you are making a simple will, it can cost very little.
  
• Who are the “executors”?
  These are the people you appoint (in your will) to look after your estate after your death. They will be responsible for carrying out your instructions and dealing with your estate in accordance with your wishes. You may appoint your spouse, your children, close relatives or close friends as executors. It is not necessary to appoint a solicitor, but there will be occasions when that will be a good idea.
  
• To whom should I leave my money?
  Most people leave their assets to their closest relatives. However, your solicitor can give you advice which will help you decide whether, for example for tax reasons, you should leave all your estate to your spouse, or your partner, or whether part of it should be left to your children. your church or a favourite charity. If you do not do this in your will, it is unlikely anyone will do it for you.
  
• What about my house?
  If you own a house jointly with another person, you will probably want to make sure they inherit your half-share after your death. This does not always happen automatically. If you do not have a will, the co-owner may not inherit your share of the house. This can cause enormous problems and may be disastrous for the co-owner.
  
• Will inheritance tax have to be paid?
  This may be a consideration if you have a significant amount of money or property to leave. If that is the case, it may be even more important to take advice from your solicitor. As part of a tax plan made with your solicitor, you may be able to save a lot of money in certain circumstances. A will is also a good opportunity of saying “thank you” to a good friend or making a donation to charity.

Corrigall Black
Solicitors, Estate Agents & Notaries Public

20 John Street
Dunoon
Argyll
PA23 8BN
Scotland

Tel. 01369 702941
Fax. 01369 704304
mail: estateagency@corrigallblack.com