LAW
Planning ahead – Andrew Steel of Punch Robson says it ’ s vital to take advice from properly regulated professionals about what you want to happen to your assets when you die .
“ It ’ s a massive sea change in people ’ s lives . A lot of our lives are online now .”
Just remember that if you don ’ t gift your digital assets with monetary value as part of your will , they will fall into the hands of the state .
Treasured virtual possessions , such as family photos and videos , can be left as part of a gift of personal property , but you will need to provide for this in your will .
Andrew said : “ We all need to be aware of any online accounts we have and perhaps even do some form of inventory of passwords so that the executors can have access . It ’ s just something we need to be more clued up about .
“ The advice I give everyone is that they need to look at things every year or two and ensure they are upto-date . Make sure you know what ’ s where .
“ It is an opportunity now , as we are hopefully coming out of the pandemic , to get everything in order . Our lives have all changed a lot in the last couple of years .
“ Everybody needs a will if you want any control over what happens when you ’ re gone . You want your loved ones to benefit . There is so much to think about , especially in the modern age and coming out of Covid .”
Always take advice from properly regulated professionals , says Andrew . “ We are regulated and properly trained . There are so many problems that can be caused by wills not being right . It is just worthwhile taking proper advice .”
Andrew said they can do faceto-face appointments if necessary , but they have found that the first meeting can often be held over Zoom or on the phone .
“ Most people will want something very straightforward in their will .
“ You can , in certain circumstances , get a will signed over Zoom or Teams . Maybe things like that will become more commonplace in the future .”
Andrew said 2022 is looking positive for his four-strong team , with more staff being taken on to deal with an ever-changing world .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 57