There are a host of reasons why deciding to make a Will can be of enormous benefit to you, your family and others who you are close to. Doing so means you can be confident your wishes will be respected when it comes to deciding what will happen to any property and savings you have. Indeed having a valid Will can allow you to make special provisions for younger family members and for causes you care about, as well as reducing your liability for inheritance tax.

MKB Law will provide you with assistance when making a Will and with the administration of your estate. Our team will take a detailed account of everything you own that could be left to others, and help you identify beneficiaries and the best way in which you can provide for them after you have gone.

Additionally, we can also help you decide what to do with any surplus capital, whether it be used as a gift or donated to a charity of your choice. Whatever your wishes, our team will strive to fulfil them.

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As a general rule, you should revisit and review your Will every five or six years. Substantial changes may have taken place in your life that require alterations to your Will, for example, if you have married or divorced since you last made a Will or if your family has grown to include children or grandchildren. If your wealth has grown, you could now be liable for inheritance tax.

Similarly, if your home has increased in value, this will also factor into your liability for tax. We can offer clarity and peace of mind to ensure that your estate is inherited in line with your wishes.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is a traumatic experience and the grieving process is stressful enough without the added worry of dealing with banks, insurance companies and pension providers.

Some people believe that the process of administering an estate is a relatively simple one, with the appointed family member or friend merely collecting the assets and distributing these in line with the Will of the deceased. In reality, this process can be far from straightforward.

Before institutions release funds they require a court to issue a Grant of Probate. This requires the executor of your Will to send the document to the Probate Registry accompanied by an affidavit stating who they are and what the estate is valued at. Accurately completing these legal stages, along with the process of distributing the assets, can be challenging for those at such a difficult time.

At MKB Law we have a wealth of experience in this area and are sensitive to the challenges that a bereaved family faces. You can find out more on our Administration of Estates page.

Inheritance tax can have a substantial impact on the value of your estate. Instructing a Wills and Estates Solicitor to draft a Will on your behalf allows you to plan sensibly so that as great a share of your estate as possible goes to the those you care about. Depending on the extent and nature of your assets, our team can advise on the best strategy for you to adequately plan for inheritance tax.

We believe that it is never too early to start planning for the future, and having plans in place to deal with your later years gives peace of mind. We can work with you and your professional advisers to ensure your twilight years can be made as comfortable and secure as possible.

An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) allows the maker to appoint someone to look after their financial affairs if they become incapable of doing so. Controllership applications can be made in the absence of an EPOA. You can read more about this service on our Caring for the Elderly page.