If you are interested in having a Will drafted, you need to consider the following before we meet to discuss the contents of your individual Will: –

1. Who you wish to appoint as your Executors?

These are people you appoint to deal with your personal affairs in the event of your death. The person should be someone whom you trust and is honest. The person who you appoint should be younger than you, aged over 18, in good health, financially astute and who has never been declared bankrupt. We recommend that you appoint at least two executors so that you always have a reserve should your first executor be unable or unwilling to assist or have predeceased you.

If you own a business, you will need to consider who you could appoint to run your business upon your death until it has been transferred to your beneficiaries to run or has been sold.

We will need your Executors full names and addresses to be included within the Will as well as a detail confirming their relationship to you.

2. If applicable, who you wish to appoint as your Guardians?

These are individuals who will oversee the upbringing and welfare of your child(ren) who are under the age of 18 at the time of your death should the other parent with parental responsibility have also died. You need to be sure that your guardians will agree to look after your child(ren) in the event of your death and that they are honest and reliable persons. We recommend at least two guardians preferably younger than you. We do not recommend grandparents unless they are under 50, because of the risk they might die either before you or shortly after you. Please let us know their full names and addresses.

3. Who you would like to be the Beneficiaries of your Estate?

These are person(s) or organisation(s) to who you have decided to leave either a gift of money or a specific item. You will also need to decide to whom you wish to leave your remaining Estate (Residuary beneficiaries) once all your gifts, debts and funeral arrangements have been paid. We advise you to consider a default residuary beneficiary in the event that your first choice predeceases you.

Again, we will need full names and addresses of any person you appoint to be your beneficiary.

4. Any Specific Bequests you may wish to make from your Estate.

If you wish to give a particular item, such as jewellery, we will need a full description to ensure that upon your death this can be readily identifiable from your remaining assets.

You need to remember that if you sell or otherwise dispose of a particular item in your lifetime, such a gift will fail unless it is replaced with a similar item.

If you wish to provide a gift to a charity please ensure you obtain the full registered name and registration number of the charity. This can be obtained from the Charity Commission on 08453000218 or www.charity-commission.gov.uk

Again, we will need full names and addresses of any person you appoint to be your beneficiaries.