Ready for all the information you need to know about writing your Will ? This article has been written by the Society of Will Writers ( SWW ). The Society of Will Writers is a non-profit making self-regulatory organisation which seeks to protect the public and serve the interests of those men and women who are active professionals in our field .
The Society has set itself two main tasks :
To promote to the public at large the real need and sense in having a valid Will ; and to act as a self-regulatory body by vetting practitioners through stringent membership requirements , proficiency standards and ongoing training .
All you to know creating
Why do you need a Will ?
There are multiple reasons why you might want to write a Will .
1 . Avoid intestacy If you die without making a Will , known as dying intestate , then your assets will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy . This will mean that the people you would like to receive your estate may not necessarily inherit it .
2 . Appoint executors Executors are the people you choose to carry out your wishes and manage your estate once you have passed away . They are responsible for collecting in your assets , paying any debts and funeral expenses and transferring any gifts to your beneficiaries . If you write a Will you can appoint people who you know and trust to act as your executors . 3 . Appoint testamentary guardians If you have minor children , you may wish to make provision in
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The Society of Will Writers
your Will for who would care for them if you were to pass away . A Will allows you to appoint guardians you trust and who your children are familiar with , offering you peace of mind . How you would like your children to be brought up can be explained in a letter of wishes accompanying the Will .
4 . Provide for the people you care about A Will allows you to make gifts to individuals who you care about and want to provide for , even those individuals who would not inherit under the rules of intestacy . If you and your partner are unmarried or not in a civil partnership they will only inherit property that you own jointly if you die without a Will . Making a Will allows you to provide for them .
5 . Make funeral arrangements Within your Will you can make your desired funeral arrangements known . This can include whether you want to be buried or cremated , where you want the funeral to take place and even whether you want flowers at your funeral or donations to a charity you ’ re passionate about in their place .
6 . Manage inheritance tax A carefully drafted Will can help mitigate the amount of inheritance tax you pay on your estate .
7 . Gifts to charity In your Will you can leave a legacy to any charities that you have supported or feel passionately