Your estate planning questions answered
Wills
Can I leave my property to my children in my Will but still allow my wife to live there after I die?
Yes, if you have the right type of Will you can pass your property to children but still ensure your spouse has a roof over their head. You can do this with a type of Will called a Property Protection Trust Will. But why would you need one? Let’s imagine what could...
Where can I find my Will if I want to change it?
It’s essential to know where your Will is, because otherwise your wishes won’t be acted upon when the time comes. There are times in your life when you’ll want to change your Will. Sometimes, though, finding the Will isn’t easy. In this article, we’ll run through...
What is wrong with a basic Will?
Because so much can go wrong in life, basic Wills put your family’s inheritance at risk. First let’s clear up what we mean by the phrase “basic Will”. By basic Will, we mean a simple Will. Basic Wills can be written for you Will Writer and solicitors and, because...
Lasting Power of Attorney
Should you get a Living Will or Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Living Will is a legal document that, unlike a Will, a Living Will is only useful during your lifetime and only applies to medical treatment. So which is better: a Living Will or Lasting Power of Attorney? Living Wills are confusingly named. They are nothing to do...
What are you legally allowed to do as an attorney on an LPA for property and financial affairs?
Attorneys under this type of LPA can deal with financial matters and property if you abide by the legal requirements and guidelines. Let's start with some of the terms that can make Lasting Powers of Attorney so confusing: Donor = the person who wishes decisions to be...
What’s the difference between Power of Attorney and a Will?
There is a very simple difference between Wills and Power of Attorney. A Will applies after your death while Power of Attorney is only active while you’re alive. Essentially, Wills deal with money. They dispose of your money, possessions and other assets after you...
Asset Protection
Can I gift my house to my children and still continue to live in it?
Giving your house to your children while you are still living in it is the worst thing you could do. You sometimes hear of people who have given their house to children while they are still alive, or who say they’ve done it. Those people often think it’s a clever way...
What is the best type of asset protection planning?
The most effective form of asset protection planning is a Trust that is set up during your lifetime. Whilst you can have a Trust in your Will, nothing will go into it until you die and so it can't protect you from events that happen while you're still alive. But what...
What does “asset protection” mean and do you really need it in your Will?
Asset protection means keeping some control over what happens to assets, such as your house, after you die. If you make a simple Will, money and assets go directly to your beneficiaries (the people you named in your Will). When the estate is settled, the money will go...
Digital legacy
Can you choose what happens to your Facebook account when you die?
Yes, you can decide now what happens to your Facebook account when you die. There are two options and it just takes a few seconds to choose one (and don't worry, you can change it again if you wish). The two choices are: Request your Facebook account be deleted when...