Wills

Clearly having a properly drafted will is extremely important for the vast majority. Unfortunately on too many occasions people put off making a will until it is too late.

When making your will it is essential to make sure that it is properly prepared and legally valid. Barrow & Cook have vast experience in this area, and have acted for generations of families in the production of good quality wills at an affordable price. When it comes to producing your will we offer two levels of service tailored to meet your particular needs.

Level 1 – “Simple Will”

This level is for a straightforward will where you know what you want in your will and who is to benefit from it. You will have prepared written details of all of your assets and will bring these with you to the first appointment.

STEP 1

Contact Andrew Cropper (or his secretary) to make an appointment to produce your will telephone number : 01744-23271).

STEP 2

Come to the first appointment. We will discuss your requirements and take down all the details and particulars. This first appointment will take approximately 45 minutes.

STEP 3

Come to the second appointment approximately 10 days later. This is where you sign your will in the presence of witnesses provided by Barrow & Cook. Your will is now valid and can be kept by us in free storage, if you wish. This second appointment will take approximately 20 minutes.

Level 2 – “More Complex Will”

This level of service is for those who wish to develop ideas and seek additional advice prior to the preparation of their wills. Normally for those individuals with more complex family circumstances, larger estates or when other more detailed plans are contemplated.

STEP 1

Contact Andrew Cropper (or his secretary) to make an appointment to produce your will (telephone number : 01744-23271).

STEP 2

Come to the first appointment. We will discuss your requirements and take down all the details and particulars. This first appointment can take up to approximately 75 minutes.

STEP 3

Come to the second appointment approximately 14 days later. This is where you sign your will in the presence of witnesses provided by Barrow & Cook. Your will is now valid and can be kept by us in free storage, if you wish. The second appointment (signing appointment) will take approximately 20 minutes.

Home Visits

If you are unable to come to our office we can arrange to come and see you on a home visit (or a hospital visit) for an additional fee. The level of fee will depend upon the distance involved and we can provide a quote on request.

Why use Barrow & Cook to make your will ?

Making a will is the surest way anyone has of providing for others after their death. Barrow & Cook are experienced not only in drawing up wills, but in advising on important related matters of law – inheritance tax, taxation, property matters, or family problems. Barrow & Cook can therefore provide the broadest professional advice service when you want to make a will.

We strongly advise people not to attempt to draft their own wills but rather entrust a fully qualified and experienced solicitor who is fully insured.

Avoiding the pitfalls – trying to make a will alone can be full of pitfalls. Many words and terms have specific meaning in law which can be different from their everyday use. Home made wills do not always mean what the writer thinks they do. It is also essential to ensure that a will is correctly witnessed. Poorly drafted wills can create upset and disharmony even in the closest of families and plainly you will wish to avoid any unnecessary dispute when you have gone.

Inheritance tax – who would intentionally leave money to the tax man ? Seeking the best professional advice can steer you through the intricacies of inheritance tax, helping you minimise its effects, and explaining the various exemptions and reliefs.

Leaving money to charity – Quite often out clients wish to make some small (and occasionally large) gifts to charity within their will. Unless you have a properly drafted will charity will not feature.

Everyone’s circumstances can change – you should make a will every time your situation changes. For example, if you taken in a cohabite, get married or enter a Civil Partnership, if you become a home owner, if you inherit money, or if your relationship breaks up. It is also worth reviewing your will every few years in any event to see that it still reflects your wishes.

Appointment of Executors – it is important within your will to appoint the executors who will be responsible for carrying out the terms of your will. This could be trusted friends or relatives and if you are not confident in any such individuals you could appoint Barrow & Cook to act and we can provide you with full advice as to how your estate will be administered upon your death.

Should you have any queries or should you wish to arrange an appointment please contact Andrew Cropper