When creating Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) via a local and professional Will Writer, the people you choose to act on your behalf are called your ‘Attorneys’. You must choose at least one Attorney, but there is no maximum number. However, too many attorneys could cause problems, especially if they are appointed “Jointly” as outlined …
Free & Cheap Wills – A Myth
Do-it-Yourself Wills A person is at liberty to draft their own Will if they so wish, and therefore pay only for the ink and the paper required to create it, or the cost of a DIY kit from a High Street stationery shop. Any such “DIY Will” should be perfectly valid provided it meets all the …
Guardians
Who can be a Guardian? Anyone can be appointed as a Guardian in your locally produced Will if they are over the age of 18 years. Anyone who is appointed as a Guardian will have Parental Responsibility (PR) for your children and therefore can make decisions about matters including: Appointing a Guardian in your Will …
Have you Unknowingly Invalidated your Will?
Are you aware of some of the different ways in which your Will could be affected by a change in your circumstances, or vice versa? Have you Unknowingly Invalidated your Will? A New Property Purchase If you purchase a new property with another person, this may have implications if your locally arranged Will (see previous …
Beware So-Called “DIY” and “Free” Wills
How do I Create a DIY Will? A person is at liberty to draft their own Will if they so wish, and therefore pay only for the ink and the paper required to create it, or the cost of a “DIY” Will kit from a High Street stationery shop. Any such “DIY Will” should be perfectly …
Local Devon Probate Guidance Equals a Larger Inheritance as a Result
What is Probate? Most people have heard the term “Probate”, however far fewer are aware of what it means. The following is some Probate Guidance from TRF Wills. Just because we have a Will, that does not automatically mean that after our death the people dealing with our affairs can immediately begin sharing out our …
Local Devon Probate Guidance Equals a Larger Inheritance as a ResultRead More
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) – Act Before it is Too Late
If a person fails to arrange Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) before they lose their mental capacity, they are then ensuring that a close family member, friend and/or business partner of theirs has no choice but to apply to a court for retrospective limited permission to make decisions upon their behalf. This is expensive and …
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Wills and Vulnerable Beneficiaries
Will beneficiaries can be vulnerable for many reasons, including but not limited to learning difficulties, illness, and addiction. How do we provide for a vulnerable, possibly dependent adult Beneficiary in our Will? The beneficiary’s vulnerability is not as important as their care needs, and the solution is known as a Vulnerable Person Trust. Vulnerable Person …
What happens when a Beneficiary cannot be found?
What happens when a beneficiary cannot be found? Well, executors of a Will (its Administrators/Representatives) need to make every effort to find a missing Beneficiary or one that is difficult to locate. This may extend to measures including the Executor(s) making enquiries with the deceased’s friends and other relatives to obtain a Beneficiary’s whereabouts, taking …
TRF Wills and the Society of Will Writers
All consultants representing TRF Wills are members of the Society of Will Writers (SWW). The Society of Will Writers was founded in 1994 and has been protecting and serving the interests of the public for over 28 years. With close to 1,800 members, the Society of Will Writers and its members continually strive to promote …
Reasonable Provision for Estranged Family Members
When a disgruntled family member (the applicant) attempts to contest a lack of, or insufficient, provision for them from a deceased person’s estate, then the courts apply a two-stage test, so what is reasonable provision for estranged family members. Firstly, the court considers whether the Will or Intestacy (if there is no Will) of the …
Disabled Persons Trust
The term “Disabled Persons Trust” is one that was created within the legal system. It is a term in no way endorsed by TRF Wills and we refer to it reservedly and solely because it is currently widely used and recognized within the Wills and Trusts industry. When someone wishes to provide in their Will …