Wealden Times | WT184 | June 2017 | Kitchen & Bathroom supplement inside

Legal
Get Your Life in Order
Three legal experts share important advice on planning for the future
Credit: FreeImages.com/Shho
Preparing, Planning and
Protecting your Estate
James Beresford, Slater and Gordon
What happens if I don’t have any plans in place?
“If you die without leaving a valid will, you are treated
as having died intestate. This means that your estate will
be divided in accordance with the law. This may mean
that people whom you do not wish to inherit from your
estate may do so. It is not necessarily a certainty that your
husband, wife or civil partner will inherit all of your estate.”
Should my partner and I have a joint will?
“There is no such thing as a ‘joint’ will. Each person
will make their own individual will. What you can do
is have wills that mirror each other in their terms. It
very much depends upon your family dynamics as to
whether your wills should do so however. It also depends
on the family scenario and the assets involved.”
What grounds could there be for my will to be contested?
“Wills can be contested in certain circumstances only.
There are limited categories of people who can claim against
your estate if they feel that they have not been sufficiently
provided for. Your will could also be challenged if you did
not have the requisite capacity to create a will and also that
you lacked knowledge and approval of the contents.
Whilst there is nothing that you can do to prevent a claim
being brought against your estate it will be harder for a
claim to be brought, if you take appropriate specialist
legal advice from a suitably qualified solicitor. He or she
will be able to express your wishes in your own words and
put plans in place to ensure that they are met.”
James Beresford is Head of Wills, Tax, Trusts and Probate at
Slater and Gordon Lawyers. 0161 383 3883 slatergordon.co.uk
159 wealdentimes.co.uk