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What are Mirror Wills and Mutual Wills? It’s an interesting question… They are NOT the same and in this article we’ll explain the differences and what you may wish to consider. Firstly, Mirror Wills are a type of Will where a couple – typically (but not always) a husband and wife make the Wills together, with mirror provisions so that if one of them dies, the other automatically inherits their Estate etc..  Mutual Wills are not the same. Mutual Wills are a type of Will where a couple make Wills, but they are binding on each other. The couple essentially state that the wishes will be carried out and that they won’t change their Wills.  When a couple makes Mirror Wills, they are essentially making the same Will. The main difference between Mirror Wills and other types of Wills is that Mirror Wills have mirror provisions for example: It’s not uncommon for a couple to make Wills which say: “I want everything to go to my spouse and then on their death, down to the kids”. Note that this isn’t the language we would use to draft a Will. Mirror Wills are often used by couples who want to ensure that their assets are passed on to their spouse in the event of their death. If you’re unmarried and want a partner to benefit you definitely need Wills. Mutual Wills are where Wills are drawn up by a couple who follow an agreement that during their lifetime they will not change their Wills without the consent of the other. They are essentially binding on one another but are no longer common. The main thing to understand is that they do differ. Mirror Wills are far more common and typically, mutual Wills are not favoured by practitioners because of their inflexibility. Wills have changed a lot over the last 30+ years and it’s imperative that you seek legal advice to ensure that your estate goes where you want and expect. In any case, without a Will, you have little or no control over these decisions. Sara at SLS Wills and More founder – Sara Sheppard has 35+ years experience in Wills and Estate Planning would be happy to provide a free consultation. Essentially, we are happy to help with advice and to ensure your chosen type of Will carries out your wishes.

SWW Conference – roundup This year saw the 25th anniversary of the SWW conference – a full days conference and followed by 3 workshops on the following morning.  The first day was themed around Vulnerabilities, and we were given the opportunity to listen to some very good speakers –   The workshops on day 2 consisted of:   All in all, the conference was an excellent learning opportunity as well as networking with other members, some of whom have become friends over the years.  It was also an opportunity to speak with sponsors who had trade stands at the conference, and there are some exciting new products that are coming soon which may be of benefit to clients in the future! Conference also gives our regional chairs and the Professional Standards Board to have face to face meetings, rather than virtual meetings that we hold throughout the year.  These are normally held the night before conference starts, so it ends up being a hectic 48 hours.  However, it is good to attend to add to my knowledge and I always come away feeling as though I have learnt something.  Although I have extensive knowledge and experience, there are always updates and changes, which may also mean a change in how I develop my practices in order to keep up to date.  For me, it is worth investing the time spent at conference to ensure that I am providing best advice for my clients.

Who Can You Trust with Your Last Power of Attorney? In England, if you want to appoint someone to make decisions for you when you can’t, you need to make a Last Power of Attorney or LPA. This document names the person who will be in charge of your affairs when you can’t make decisions for yourself. It’s an important decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. In this blog post, we’ll talk about who can be appointed as an attorney in an LPA and what practical considerations should be made. Choosing an Attorney The first step in choosing an LPA attorney is to consider who you trust to make decisions on your behalf. These decisions won’t or don’t necessarily have to be made when you lose capacity but it’s often the case. The person in question should also always make decisions in your best interests.  This person will have a significant amount of responsibility, so it’s important that you choose someone you know and trust implicitly. They must understand their responsibilities too. Many people choose a family member or close friend, but you can also appoint a professional. Speak to us if you need to appoint a professional. Location is important because the person or people you appoint as your attorneys shouldn’t be located too far from you as this may become inconvenient or impractical. Once you’ve decided who you want to appoint, you need to consider what sort of decisions they’ll need to make on your behalf. For example, will they need to manage your finances? Make healthcare decisions? Both? You’ll need to make sure that your LPA covers all the areas that are important to you and we can help you with both of these LPA documents. Practical Considerations with LPAs Once you’ve chosen your LPA attorney, there are a few practical considerations to keep in mind. First, you’ll need to make sure that they’re available and willing to take on the responsibility. They should also be comfortable with the level of decision-making required. You may want to have a conversation with them about your LPA before you formalise anything to make sure they’re up for the task and understand your wishes. It’s also important to consider what would happen if your attorney is unable or unwilling to continue in their role and who you would want as a replacement attorney, just in case. Finally, you need to think about how you will keep your LPA up to date. As your circumstances change, you may need to make changes to your LPA. For example, if your wishes regarding healthcare change or if your investments change, you may want to have a discussion with us about your LPA to reflect these changes. Making a decision about who will be in charge of your affairs when you can’t is a big responsibility. But if you take the time to choose someone you trust and consider all the practicalities, you can be sure that your LPA is in good hands. SLS Wills and More are on hand to support and our team have years of experience.

Will Writing is one of those topics that isn’t always the most engaging. At this time of year, people start thinking about New Years Resolutions and I’d get around to ‘that’ after Christmas. When it comes to Will Writing, there are typically three different types of people: 1. Those who are organised, have done their Wills and get on with life (reviewing every 3-5 years) 2. People who are nervous about the process but still get the ball rolling (normally without a great deal of urgency). 3. Those who flat-out refuse to consider estate planning because “It’ll never happen to me”… In this short article, we’re going to share a couple of examples of Why writing a Will is so important and why you shouldn’t put it off. As a kent-based Will writing service we speak to all manner of people and help them to get their affairs in order. Part of this involves understanding what they want to achieve, who they would like to protect and what could stand in the way of that. Often these common problems come up: Using a couple of examples, we’ll share some reasons why you shouldn’t delay in sorting your estate planning. If you have young children, a Will is an opportunity to appoint guardians in the event that something were to happen to you and your partner. This is one of the most common reasons why people get their Will written and is also one of the most important. If you don’t have a Will in place, the Courts will decide who looks after your children and this could be somebody that you would not have chosen. Another common reason for writing a Will is to protect assets such as your home. If you are not married and you die without a Will, your partner will not automatically inherit your estate. This could cause all sorts of problems, especially if you have young children. A Will is also an opportunity to make sure that your assets go to the people that you want them to. You can use a Will to exclude people from your estate, or you can include people who are not normally entitled to inherit (such as unmarried partners, friends or charities). The term ‘sideways disinheritance’ is often used to describe what can happen when people don’t have a Will in place. This is where assets such as your home are passed on to your spouse, and they perhaps might remarry. In remarrying, all of your assets might be lost to their new partner and your children could be entirely disinherited. This is all too common. The sheer fact that we cannot predict when it will be our time to go means that we shouldn’t put off writing our Will. For the sake of a couple of hours of your time, a meeting with tea and biscuits (or coffee and cake), we can help you get your affairs in order. Don’t wait until after Christmas. Book your appointment now.

When it comes to funeral wishes and writing a Will, there are many things that UK residents need to know. Funeral wishes allow you to communicate your final wishes for your funeral and burial to your loved ones. A Will is a legal document that allows you to designate who will inherit your property and assets after you die. In this article, we will discuss the importance of both funeral wishes and Wills, and provide tips on how to write them. Funeral wishes are important because they give you a chance to express your final wishes for your funeral and burial. You can use funeral wishes to specify what kind of funeral you want, what kind of music you want to be played, who you want to speak at your funeral, and any other special requests you may have. Funeral wishes can also be used to express your wishes for your final resting place. You may want to be buried in a specific cemetery or you may have a preference for cremation. Whatever your wishes are, it is important to communicate them to your loved ones so that they can be carried out according to your wishes. Typically, these can be left in a document accompanying your Will called a Letter of Wishes. Writing a Will is also important because it allows you to designate who will inherit your property and assets after you die. Without a Will, your property and assets will be distributed according to the laws of intestacy, which may not be what you want. In your Will, you can also appoint a guardian for your minor children. If you die without a Will, the court will appoint a guardian for your children. Both funeral wishes and Wills are important documents to have in place before you die. If you don’t have either of these documents in place, your loved ones will have to make difficult decisions about your funeral and estate without knowing your wishes. This can add stress to an already difficult citation.  To avoid this, be sure to speak to us about your letter of wishes and your Will, and keep them in a safe place where your loved ones can find them easily before the funeral is arranged. For advice on writing your Will and help to set out your funeral wishes, contact us at SLS Wills and More to arrange an appointment.

The Christmas season is a time for giving, and what could be more important than giving your loved ones peace of mind in knowing that you have taken care of everything in the event of your death? Will Writing and Estate Planning are two essential steps to take to ensure that your wishes are carried out after you’re gone. Here at SLS Wills and More, we offer Will Writing services throughout Kent and in fact further afield with clients across England and Wales. Our Will Writing team is led by Sara Sheppard – a Will Writer with over 35 years of experience, who is TEP qualified, a member of the Society of Will Writers and who is a specialist in estate planning. She can help make sure that your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone and it’s never more important that at Christmas when we spend time with those we love. The Importance of Will Writing and Estate Planning There are a number of reasons why Will writing and estate planning are important. First, if you die without a Will, your assets will be distributed according to the Laws of Intestacy. This means that your assets may not be distributed the way you wanted them to be. Second, if you have minor children (under the age of 18), it is important to have a Will so that you can designate a legal guardian for them. Otherwise, the court will decide who should take care of your children. Third, even if you don’t have minor children, a Will can still be important in terms of distributing your assets the way you want. Lastly, estate planning can help to minimise or mitigate any taxes and other expenses that your estate could be liable for. What our Will Writing Services can offer you and especially why you should consider it at Christmas When it comes to Will Writing Services, there are a lot of different things that our company can offer you. We can help you to create a Will, we can help you to update an existing one, and we can even provide you with estate planning services like Lasting Powers of Attorney. However, one of the best things that our company can offer you is peace of mind and we take great pride in that. For some, a simple Will is all you need and we can help draft in the right clauses to ensure your wishes are carried out. If you’re like most people, the thought of writing your Will can be a bit overwhelming. After all, it’s not something that most of us like to think about or have to do often. We would much rather put it off until later. Unfortunately, this often means that we never get around to it and if something should happen to us, which doesn’t bear thinking about, we need to make sure that our estate can be distributed accordingly. Whether or not you have a Will, probate may be required.  The requirement for probate is based on the value and type of assets you have in your sole name.  Having a Will makes it easier to obtain and thus makes it less stressful for your family. In addition to helping your family, having a Will can also help to ensure that your assets are distributed the way that you want them to be. Without it, your hard-earned money could end up going to someone who you don’t even know, who you have lost touch with, and friends and charities don’t benefit at all. Making a Will is an important step in ensuring that your wishes are carried out after you die. We’ve never heard anyone regret making a Will and certainly not with SLS Wills and More. At Christmas time, when we are surrounded by our loved ones, it is the perfect time to think about our who we would like to benefit from our assets. Our Will Writing Services can provide you with everything you need to create a legally binding document that reflects your final wishes. Better still, we draft it and ensure it’s signed correctly. The Benefits of Having a Will at Christmas When it comes to making important decisions about your future, there is no time like the present (excuse the pun). And if you are thinking about what will happen to your belongings and loved ones after you pass away, then creating a Will is one of the most important things you can do. While many people put off creating a Will because they think it is morbid or they do not have enough assets to warrant one, the truth is that everyone can benefit from having a Will—no matter how young or old you are, or how much money you have. One of the biggest benefits of having a Will is that it gives you peace of mind. Knowing that your affairs are in order and that your loved ones will be taken care of according to your wishes can provide a great deal of comfort and security. Another benefit of having a Will is that it allows you to control how your assets are distributed after you die. Finally, having a Will can help to avoid family conflict – which is something that often arises at Christmas time after too many sherries. If all of your wishes are clearly laid out in a legal document, there is less room for disagreement and dispute among your loved ones. This can save your family a great deal of heartache and stress during an already difficult time. If you have been putting off creating a Will, there is no time like the present. The benefits of having one far outweigh the cost and hassle of putting it off until later. So take the first step in protecting your loved ones and your legacy by creating a Will today. How Our Will Writing Service Can Help You A Will is a legal document that allows

Estate planning is something that should be done regardless of your age. However, with 2023 getting underway, it’s important to start thinking about what you need to do during the coming year to prepare for the future. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the things that you need to think about when it comes to estate planning. We will also provide some tips on how to get started! First, we cannot stress how essential it is to have a Will in place. This helps ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after you pass away. This should be your number one priority if you haven’t got a Will in place already. With over half the population in the UK without a Will, it is something that is often neglected until it is too late. Having a Will allows you to choose who inherits your estate, but also to appoint guardians for your minor children, as well as to place your funeral wishes. When it comes to estate planning, one of the most important things to consider is trusts. Trusts can be incredibly useful in several different situations, and it’s important to understand how they work and what they can do for you. Trusts are essentially legal documents that allow you to transfer assets from one person to another, but in different ways. They also enable you to safeguard or ringfence assets. There are many different types of trusts and each has its own purpose. Some have different benefits and tax treatments so professional advice is always recommended. Some of the common types of trust include: Finally, don’t forget about having a Lasting Power of Attorney (often called LPA) in place. This allows you to designate someone who would look after your affairs in the event that you can no longer make decisions for yourself. There are two types of LPAs that are available. A Property and Financial Affairs LPA will allow your attorney to make decisions regarding your property and financial affairs, such as accessing your bank account, paying bills or selling your property. The other LPA is Health and Welfare which allows someone to make decisions for you regarding your care, including accepting or refusing life-sustaining treatment. These are vital if you are unable to make or communicate the decisions for yourself or if you need a little support but can only be made whilst you still have the required capacity to create the documents so therefore, can’t be put off. Estate planning is a complex process but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you take the time to do some research and plan ahead, you can ensure that your wishes are honoured and your assets are taken care of.  2023 is the perfect time to get started on estate planning – so don’t wait any longer! Make sure you use this year to get all of your ducks in a row so that you and your family can have peace of mind for years to come.

When it comes time to choose an estate planning firm, many people automatically go with a national business. While these businesses may have a wider reach, they often don’t offer the same level of personal service that you would get from a local estate planning firm like SLS Wills and More. Here are just a few of the benefits of choosing SLS Wills and More: Choosing a local estate planning firm like SLS Wills and More can provide you with the personal attention and guidance you need to ensure that your assets are handled correctly. From personalised service to flexibility and cost savings, there are many reasons to choose SLS Wills and More for your estate planning needs.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows someone to nominate individuals or organisations, known as attorneys, to manage their affairs should they become incapable of doing so. There are two types of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) – one for health and welfare matters, and one for property and financial matters. At SLS Wills and More, our expert team can assist with setting up an LPA correctly in line with the requirements set out by the Office of the Public Guardian. The Office of the Public Guardian is responsible for registering Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) and providing a certificate when the LPA is registered. The certificate provider will confirm that the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is valid and that the donor (the person setting up the LPA) understands what they are doing. Therefore it is essential that when you make a Lasting Power of Attorney, you have the ‘mental capacity’ to do so. When we support clients with the creation of a Will or LPA, we conduct mental capacity assessments. *Note* The tests for LPAs and Wills are different. To register Lasting Powers of Attorney, three parties must be involved: – The Donor – this is the person authorising the Lasting Power of Attorney and making decisions about who will be their attorney(s). – The Attorney(s) – this is the person (or persons) appointed by the donor to make decisions on their behalf. It is important that these are people you trust, as they will have a large amount of power over your affairs if you become unable to manage them yourself. Often, children or your spouse will be your attorneys. – The Certificate Provider – this is someone who can certify that the Lasting Power of Attorney has been correctly filled out and that you have had capacity to make one. It is important to note that Lasting Powers of Attorney come into effect as soon as they are registered, so it’s essential to ensure there are safeguards in place should anything go wrong. At SLS Wills and More, we are able to provide you with advice on how to protect yourself when creating an LPA, as well as provide a Lasting Power of Attorney service should you require it. We strongly advise that anyone who is considering setting up Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) speaks with our team at SLS Wills and More first before doing so. We are here to help ensure the process goes smoothly and correctly for both you and your loved ones. You may wish to note that you could complete the application for an LPA without professional support but it should be noted that if you complete the forms incorrectly and they are rejected by the OPG, you will lose your application/registration fee. At the time of writing, that fee stands at £82 per document. By choosing SLS Wills and More to help you with your estate planning, we take responsibility for the form filling and are able to identify if you are entitled to any exceptions or remissions on the fees. If Lasting Powers of Attorney are not set up correctly or if concerns arise around mental capacity during the Lasting Power of Attorney process, it could result in expensive court proceedings further down the line. A couple of high-profile cases highlight the real need for LPAs and they include TV presenter – Kate Garroway and author – Heather Bateman. In both cases their husband’s Lasting Powers of Attorney were not in place and as a result, the families had to endure costly court battles with the Court of Protection. Both are big advocates for LPAs. Another advocate for LPAs is money expert – Martin Lewis. Over the last few years Martin Lewis has publically talked about his support for these legal documents. In summary, when you’re ready to think about Lasting Powers of Attorney or if you’d like more information, feel free to reach out to SLS Wills and More.

At SLS Wills and More, we provide a comprehensive service to help make sure that your estate planning is taken care of. Our experienced team will work with you to draft a legally valid Will that meets your specific needs and protects your assets to ensure that they go where you want, or to who you want when the time comes. We also provide advice on setting up trusts, powers of attorney, and guardianship. We take the time to understand your personal circumstances and provide you with tailored advice on how best to meet your estate planning goals. In doing so we often have a chat over a cup of the team to find out more about you, and your family and often form lovely bonds with clients. Our team is available for office or home appointments in Kent, as well as across England and Wales via telephone or video call, so you can be sure that SLS Wills and More will provide you with a service that meets all of your needs, no matter where you are. We are always available to answer any questions you have about estate planning and will do our best to make sure that your wishes are carried out when the time comes. One crucial element of our service, and perhaps something that sets us apart from other estate planning professionals is our experience and professionalism. Collectively, our team have over 50 years of estate planning experience and our founder – Sara has over 35 years of knowledge meaning you’re in safe hands. Better still, Sara is a member of the Society of Will Writers (SWW), is a full TEP (member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners – known as STEP), she sits on the SWW’s Professional Standards Board and helps advise the SWW on ways that they can improve the standards of members nationwide. If you’d like to put your estate planning in place, then speak to Sara or a member of our team and we can book in a free no-obligation appointment to go through everything with you. Contact SLS Wills and More today and take a step toward protecting your assets in the future. We look forward to hearing from. SLS Wills and More