8 minute read
LEGAL
You are at the centre of our legal advice - we are all the help Ensure your affairs are in order with a Will 0800 088 6004 | enquiries@wilsonbrowne.co.uk | wilsonbrowne.co.uk
With New Year plans in progress, we spoke to Solicitor Charlotte Pinkham at Wilson Browne Solicitors about getting your affairs in order with a Will.
Do I really need a Will? This is the most common question I get asked, especially from married couples as it is often assumed that everything will simply pass to the surviving spouse. However, if you do not have a Will in place, under the rules in England and Wales, you are deemed as passing intestate meaning it is then left to the intestacy rules to determine who benefits from your estate. Another aspect to note is that un-married partners and co-habitees are not recognised under the intestacy rules and so your partner would not benefit from anything in your estate. If you want control over who inherits from your estate and peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be respected after your death, then you need to have a Will in place.
What should I include in my Will? Your Will should deal with how you wish everything you own to be distributed on your death. This is from the small things such as jewellery, personal belongings and car to the bigger assets such as your property, savings, investments, policies and much more. Within your Will you can state who you wish your beneficiaries to be and the percentage or amount you wish for them to inherit. This can include anyone of your choice from your spouse, children, friends, charities to name a few.
Can I change my Will if I need too? Yes of course, you can change your Will at any time as long as you have mental capacity and understanding of what you are changing. We understand that your personal circumstances change, and we advise that you review your Will every 4-5 years to ensure it still meets with your current wishes.
When does my Will come into effect? Once you have approved the contents of your Will, you are then in a position to sign the document. For a Will to be legal you need to sign and date in the presence of two independent witnesses who are also required to sign and provide their details. Once all parties have signed, the Will is legal from that point consideration is needed when choosing your Executors. They are responsible for executing your Will and administering your whole estate.
Anyone of your choice can be your Executor and you can have up to four named in your Will. This could be your spouse, partner, children, friends, a firm of Solicitors to name a few.
I have a Will in place so does that mean my estate doesn’t have to go through Probate? Again, this is a common question I often get asked from clients. Probate is the process of proving that a Will is valid and confirming who has authority to administer the estate of the deceased. If the deceased’s estate is valued above a certain amount it may become necessary to obtain a Grant of Probate. of mind that your funeral wishes will be carried out or your children will be placed with your chosen guardians for them or your share of the property is protected from future potential care cost fees of your surviving spouse.
Do I need a Solicitor to write a Will? The simple answer is no. You do not need a Solicitor to write a Will and can write one yourself. Whilst these are legal, they can lead to future problems. For example, if the wording can be considered ambiguous it could be contested or if it is not signed correctly it will not be deemed valid. By using a Solicitor to write your Will such problems will be addressed and dealt with at the point of drafting the Will rather than when it’s too late to rectify.
How does my Will get put into place? This is the responsibility of your Executors that you have named in your Will and is why careful At what age should I think about writing a Will? The simple answer to this is as long as you are over 18 years old, you are never too young to consider writing a Will. I completely understand that it is not top of many ‘things-to-do lists’ and can be a little daunting to think about death. However, life can be unpredictable and fragile at times, and accidents can and do happen. How do I go about starting to write my Will? If you now feel it is time to write your Will then contact any member of our experienced Wills and Probate team at Wilson Browne who will be more than happy to help.
I haven’t got much in my estate so why do I need a Will? When most people think of the purpose of a Will they immediately think about who is going to inherit their property or their money in the bank. However, your Will also allows you peace Call us on 0800 088 6004 for advice and to start the process today. We can offer telephone calls, Zoom appointments or face to face meetings in any of our six offices. We look forward to meeting you and getting that box on your ‘things-to-do list’ ticked off. www.wilsonbrowne.co.uk
Charlotte Pinkham Solicitor
For advice on the preparation of your Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney and the importance of preparing these documents during your lifetime contact us for a free consultation on 0800 088 6004
Join the Ousedale Sixth Form Family
Ousedale Sixth Form has a long tradition of success, consistently achieving excellent results at GCE Advanced Level in all subjects and vocational routes. They have excellent study facilities and all classrooms are fitted with the latest technology. With over 400 pupils in their Sixth Form, Ousedale are proud to offer an ambitious, broad curriculum.
The standards expected and achieved at Ousedale Sixth Form are high, with the combination of personal development and academic achievement. They are proud of their pupils who go on to a wide range of destinations from university to apprenticeships, or employment. Typically, one third of their pupils go on to a Russell Group University and a number go on to study at Oxbridge in addition to Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry. Whatever route pupils take, they will be there every step of the way not only from their exceptional Teachers and Pastoral Team but also from their dedicated Careers Team and Widening Opportunities Team. Here’s what one of their pupils has to say:
Samuel - Ousedale Sixth Form pupil “I am currently studying Further Mathematics, Chemistry and Computer Science. I joined Ousedale in Year 12 as an external pupil from another school and what led me to take this decision was the wide variety of subjects on offer in addition to the blocking system which allowed me to take subject combinations which were not possible at other Sixth Forms. Staff are very supportive and passionate in their teaching, which I believe has been integral in my academic success. At Ousedale I also have access to great facilities such as the Study Centre which provides a dedicated area for Sixth Form pupils to be able to work. After I have completed my A-Levels, I intend to go to university and study for a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.” Samuel, Ousedale Sixth Form pupil.
Ousedale’s Sixth Form Open Evening takes place on Thursday 5th January 2023 6pm-8.30pm To book tickets for the event and view their prospectus, visit their website: www.ousedale.org.uk
Ousedale Sixth Form
Students are: Well prepared to leave Sixth Form and pursue their goals… Sixth Form students feel that sta support them well. Students appreciate the varied sessions on personal development… Committed teachers use their excellent subject knowledge to ensure that all pupils, and particularly pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.
Students achieve well at Ousedale Sixth Form:
• Top performing school in Milton Keynes at A Level/vocational courses • Typically, a third of students gain a place at Russell Group universities, including Oxbridge • Dedicated careers department with established relationships with a range of organisations • Dedicated UCAS and ‘widening opportunities’ team
OFSTED (January 2020)
At Ousedale School:
• We consider all applications • We personalise and tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of our students • We believe that Further Education opportunities should be accessible and available to as many young people as possible • Provision includes a wide range of A Level and vocational courses. We also provide extensive opportunities for personal development
Sixth Form students at Ousedale benefit from:
• Specialist sta in a range of A Level and vocational courses • A purpose built Sixth Form Centre and excellent IT and study facilities • Wide-ranging enrichment activities including DofE, national competitions, music, ‘InvestIN’ courses and debating • Bursary funding available, including travel • High level of pastoral support and a dynamic Student Leadership Team • Excellent progression rates to Higher Education/Apprenticeships • Opportunities to participate and compete in sport and perform in the Arts
Sixth Form Open Evening
Thursday 5th January 2023, 6pm-8.30pm
at our Newport Pagnell Campus
Presentations will be held at: 6pm and 6.45pm Presentations will be followed by a tour of the Sixth Form To book on one of our two presentations, visit our website to register for the event: www.ousedale.org.uk
Tickets are limited, book early to avoid disappointment!
Newport Pagnell Campus - The Grove, Newport Pagnell MK16 0BJ Tel: 01908 210203 Headteacher: Mr Andy Burton Olney Campus - Aspreys, Olney MK46 5LF Tel: 01234 717480 www.ousedale.org.uk
