Simple, quick Will writing Because that nagging voice in your head does have a point

Transcription

1 Simple, quick Will writing Because that nagging voice in your head does have a point

2 Introducing the Will writing service from The Co-operative Legal Services We ve made making a Will straightforward and simple. A Will is a legal document that enables you to say who you want to benefit from your estate when you are no longer here. Having a Will means you ll have the peace of mind of knowing that the people you care about will be cared for exactly as you would wish. Having a Will also allows you to legally appoint people you trust to look after the administration of your property and possessions when the time comes; things like cashing in assets, paying debts and distributing what s left to the right people. Another essential job your Will does is protecting your assets, so that they can be used to provide for your family and cover matters such as residential care and tax planning. No hidden costs The Co-operative Legal Services offers fixed fee pricing wherever possible You will always know what the charges will be at every stage You stay in control of the costs, meaning no surprises along the way

3 Three simple steps to writing your Will Step 1 Talk to an adviser in branch today or call The Co-operative Legal Services for free initial legal advice based on your circumstances or to book an appointment to write your Will with one of their specialists on Step 2 T he Co-operative Legal Services will call you at a convenient time to take your instructions over the phone, whilst you re in the comfort of your own home. Step 3 Your Will will then be prepared and The Co-operative Legal Services will send it to you for your approval, for you to sign and have witnessed and send back to them to store free of charge until it is needed.

4 What happens if I don t have a Will? If you die without a Will, the Rules of Intestacy will decide who receives your property and possessions. But as the rules were created back in 1925, they may not properly reflect today s lifestyles and family arrangements and although they aim to care for spouses, civil partners and biological children, they ignore unmarried partners, step-children, friends and charities. If you don t have a Will, you won t have the chance to put plans in place for your children, provide for vulnerable beneficiaries or protect the value of your estate from tax so as to preserve it for loved ones. Without a Will your estate may not be distributed in the way you would like

5 The importance of keeping a Will up to date You may have written a Will before perhaps when you bought your first house or when your children were young. But even if you passed away 30 or more years after your Will was written, your original wishes would still stand and need to be carried out after you died even if your circumstances had changed considerably over the years. It is advisable to review your Will after every significant life change (such as a change in a relationship, having children, an unexpected change in your personal wealth, the illness of a loved one or retirement) so you can ensure it still reflects your wishes. Certain events (like marriage or divorce) mean that parts of your existing Will or even all of it will automatically become invalid so an urgent re-write would be necessary. The Co-operative Legal Services specialist will discuss with you the life changes that have taken place since you last wrote your Will and can advise as to how your Will needs to be amended. Births, marriages and divorces all impact upon an existing Will Peace of mind your Will professionally written by specialists Not all Wills are written by a legal professional; some people write their Wills using self-help books and DIY packs. However, Wills are important legal documents with strict rules and if you don t stick to those rules, your Will may not be valid. That s why they believe it s in the best interests of you and your family to have your Will written by a specialist. The Co-operative Legal Services team will discuss your wishes and draft your Will so it reflects your needs, plus they ll ensure all legal formalities are complied with. Writing your Will this way means you ll have total peace of mind because you ll know your loved ones are properly protected no matter what the future holds.

6 If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you should definitely write a Will Q: Are you in a relationship? (living with a partner, married or in a civil partnership) Q: Would you like to provide for children or grandchildren? Q: Do you want to specify who should care for your children if something happens to you? Q: Do you wish to leave money to someone vulnerable? (e.g. with a disability, divorcing or struggling financially) Q: Do you own a property? Q: Do you have other assets you wish to leave to particular people? (e.g. shares, savings, investments) Q: Does paying Inheritance Tax concern you? (currently 40% on property, possessions and savings totalling over 325,000 per person) Our services include The Co-operative Legal Services specialist will help prepare documents that provide protection for you and your loved ones: Living Will allows you to state the type of care and treatment that you would, or would not like to receive, should you later be diagnosed with a terminal illness or become seriously unwell. Single Wills a Will for single people in which you name Executors to administer your estate, Guardians for any children under 18 and the Beneficiaries of your estate. Specific wishes regarding charities, pets and funeral arrangements can also be recorded. Mirror Will a Will for couples (unmarried partners and those married or in civil partnerships) with similar wishes, including all the features included in a Single Will. Lasting Power of Attorney lets you nominate another person, or people, to manage your assets on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so through physical or mental incapacity. Trusts Trusts are widely used in Wills, but few people really understand what a trust is. In short, a trust exists when one or more people look after property or assets for the benefit of one or more other people.

7 Trust The Co-operative Legal Services to help you in so many ways The Co-operative Legal Services are part of The Co-operative Group. So you know you can rely on their specialists to help you deal with a whole range of other legal issues. These include family law issues such as ways you can protect yourself financially when you start a new relationship by preparing a pre-nuptial agreement, advising you on cohabitation, what happens if a relationship breaks down including dealing with finances and arrangements for children and helping your children get on the housing ladder. We can also help with probate, personal injury claims and employment law, or when you need to write a new Will or amend an existing one. Conveyancing services can be arranged too, through an approved panel of experts. For advice or to find out more call us on

8 To see how we could help you call am to 8pm Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm Saturdays or visit our website at services.co.uk Our family of businesses The Co-operative Legal Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under registration number A list of the Directors is available for inspection at our Registered Office. The Co-operative Legal Services is a trading name of Co-operative Legal Services Limited. Registered Office: Co-operative Legal Services Limited, 1 Angel Square, Manchester M60 0AG. Registered in England and Wales under Company Number: In Scotland and Northern Ireland different laws apply and The Co-operative Legal Services will refer you to one of our approved panel of solicitors who will act on your behalf. Our road traffic accident personal injury service in England and Wales is provided by Co-operative Legal Services Limited. All other personal injury services in England and Wales are provided by an approved panel. Terms and Conditions apply and are available on request. Calls to 0844 numbers will cost no more than 4p a minute for BT customers. Calls from other networks may vary. We like our communications to have an impact on you but not on the environment. Which is why this is printed using vegetable oil-based inks on 100% recycled paper, made in a totally chlorine-free process. I m not finished please recycle me! CLS /13 The Co-operative Group s family of businesses is on hand to assist you with all life s essentials. From banking and investments, to food and pharmacy, you ll find The Co-operative has a store or service when and where you need it.