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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

Many of you know but a Will is a legal document which outlines how you want your assets to be distributed and managed after you pass away. There’s a fair bit more to it than that but it is important to ensure that your Will is kept up-to-date. It’s important to keep your Will up-to-date so it reflects current circumstances. SLS Wills and More recommends reviewing a Will every 3-5 years. To make sure your Will is fit for purpose, SLS Wills and More provides a free review service. We operate this service for clients and for people who are new to SLS Wills and More. In some cases, you might consider rewriting your Will. SLS Wills and More can help you if that is the case but we will always provide detailed guidance as to why we believe it’s important. If your circumstances only require minor alterations, you might be advise you to use a ‘Codicil’. A Codicil is a legal document which allows you to make changes to your existing Will without the need to rewrite it. SLS Wills and More don’t advocate Codicils. We have seen cases where they have been lost and any changes have therefore been ignored. We tend to completely rewrite Wills for clients to ensure they have the best possible protection in place. SLS Wills and More can provide you with expert advice as to whether rewriting your Will is the best option for you or whether you even need it. The most important message here is that you should keep your Will up to date and here are 5 reasons why changes to your Will might be necessary. Naturally, this is not an exhaustive list: 1. You’ve moved home or your address has changed 2. You’ve been through a marriage, civil partnership, divorce or separation 3. You have new children or grandchildren 4. Your assets or wealth have increased or decreased significantly (for example you have recieved an inheritance) 5. Someone named in your Will has passed away or you’d like to change gifts in your Will, change your executors, guardians or trustees. It’s important to ensure that your Will is up-to-date and SLS Wills and More can help you with this. Contact SLS Wills and More today for a free review of your Will. We will help you to make sure that your Will is fit for purpose and that it reflects current circumstances.

A Will is a legal document that allows you to state how you want your assets and estate to be distributed after you die. In England and Wales, there are 6 important reasons why you need to write a Will. Writing a Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after you pass away. Without a Will, your die intestate. This means your estate will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy – which may not reflect your wishes. Writing a Will also allows you to name an executor or executors (often people you trust), who will ensure that your wishes are carried out. SLS Wills and More has compiled 6 of the most important reasons why it’s important for you to write a Will if you live in England and Wales: 1. To make sure your assets are distributed as you wish – Writing a Will allows you to specify exactly how your assets and estate should be distributed, ensuring that they go to the people or charity of your choice. 2. To ensure that any young children are provided for – If you have young children, a Will is essential in order to appoint guardians who will look after them if both parents pass away. 3. To protect vulnerable beneficiaries – A Will can provide protection if you are leaving assets to someone who may not be able to manage their own affairs by using trust arrangements. This can help them benefit from the inheritance without it being squandered or taken advantage of. 4. To minimise or mitigate an Inheritance Tax liability – It’s possible to reduce your Inheritance Tax bill with careful planning, which should be outlined in your Will. This is a very complex subject and often we work with you, your accountant or your financial adviser to ensure that your planning isn’t detrimental in any way. 5. To set up a trust fund – A Will allows you to establish a trust to provide funds for the education and maintenance of any children or grandchildren, while also avoiding inheritance tax liabilities. 6. To make sure everything runs smoothly – If you are seriously ill, it’s important to write a Will so that in the event of your death your wishes will be clear and there won’t be any disagreements between family members about how things should be divided up. This is not an exhaustive list, but SLS Wills and More believes the 6 reasons above are the most important when it comes to writing a Will in England and Wales. Writing a Will can ensure that your wishes are carried out after you pass away and SLS Wills and More can help you write one today! Contact us now to find out more about our services.

What is a Will? A Will is an important legal document that reflects your wishes for what should happen to your money, property and possessions after you die. Well, this is a common perception but it’s actually about so much more than that and in this article, we’ll go through all elements of Will Writing. We’ve already talked about the fact that a Will is an important legal document. It’s probably one of the most important documents you’ll ever make. It can include instructions on who will inherit your assets, and name a guardian for minor children, but it should also include arrangements for payment of debts and taxes, who will be the executor of your estate (the person responsible for carrying out your wishes), and any other instructions related to your wishes. Who can write a Will? In England and Wales, for a Will to be legally binding it must be written by someone who: – is over 18 years old; – has the mental capacity to make decisions; and – understands what the document means and the implications of signing it. Do keep in mind that if you don’t write a Will, your estate will be distributed in accordance with the Laws of Intestacy. What are the Laws of Intestacy? The Laws of Intestacy is a set of rules which govern who will inherit your estate if you don’t make a Will. This means that if you do not write a Will, the court will decide who inherits your assets. If this applies to you, and you have children, your assets can be split among them in the manner specified by the law. Click here to view our Intestacy Flow Chart. Some common Will myths There are some common misconceptions about writing a Will and we’ll try to clear them up here. First, it is not true that Wills are only for people who have many possessions or a lot of money. If you have any assets at all, it’s important to write a Will to make sure they are distributed according to your wishes. Also, contrary to popular belief, you do not need a solicitor to write a Will. People living in England and Wales can draw up a Will themselves, as long as they are over 18 and have mental capacity. This doesn’t mean you should. We’ve been in the profession for over 35 years and have seen some terrible examples of DIY Wills. When firms like SLS Wills and More offer a free consultation, it’s worth having a chat and understanding the complexities surrounding your wishes with no obligation to accept the advice and proceed. Many people think that they have a simple estate and therefore only need a simple Will. More often than not, some complexities have not been taken into account or that you simply wouldn’t know as a lay person. What is an Executor? An executor is the person responsible for carrying out the wishes you write into your Will. An executor must be a person of legal age and mental capacity, so it is important to choose someone who you trust and who is capable of handling the responsibility. The role of an executor includes distributing assets to beneficiaries, filing tax returns, collecting debts and managing cash flow, among many other responsibilities. This means it’s important to pick your executor carefully – they have a lot of responsibilities including legal responsibilities. What is a Trustee? A trustee is a person appointed to look after assets held in trust for the benefit of someone else. Trustees have a fiduciary responsibility to make sure the assets are managed and distributed in accordance with your wishes, as stated in your Will. They are also appointed in the Will. How do you revoke a Will? You can revoke your Will at any time, as long as you have the mental capacity to make decisions. It is important to remember that any changes you make to your Will must be made in writing, and it should be signed and witnessed. If you’re revoking a Will, it might be because you’re writing a new one in which it’s common for there to be a clause in the new Will revoking the old Will. If you’re not writing a new Will but simply want to revoke a previous Will you can simply destroy it. It is important to note that if you destroy your Will, it must be done with the intention of revoking it. Why would someone make a Will? Here are 7 common reasons people write a Will. 1. To ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes when you pass away. 2. To provide for any dependents who may be left without financial support if you don’t make a Will. 3. To name guardians for your children, should both parents die before the children reach adulthood. 4. To appoint an executor who will be responsible for managing and distributing the assets by your wishes as stated in the Will. 5. To appoint trustees and set up trusts, which can help protect or ringfence assets for the benefit of intended beneficiaries. 6. To make specific gifts of money, items or property to particular individuals. 7. To reduce the burden of taxes, by using available exemptions or planning tax liabilities in the most efficient way for your estate. How do you sign a Will (in England and Wales)? In England and Wales, Wills must be signed in the presence of two witnesses who are over 18 years old. Neither witness must be a beneficiary of the Will as this will invalidate any gifts made to them. Commonly, friends or neighbours act as witnesses but we can guide on this. The signing should take place in one go – all parties should be present at the same time when signing the document on the attestation page. There is no obligation to sign each page or even read the Will over to the witnesses. The Will

As the leading Kent-based Will writers, SLS Wills and More have been providing trusted estate planning services to professionals and families in Canterbury and across Kent for over 5 years since founder – Sara Sheppard left private practice to start her own business. The firm has built a strong reputation for excellent customer service that keeps clients coming back when they want Will reviews, and of course, referring friends and family. The team at SLS Wills and More is dedicated to providing the best service possible to all of their clients, and this is reflected in the positive reviews they have received on Google Business page. Due to the high demand for their services, SLS Wills and More are now booking appointments for Wills into June. They believe that having a well-prepared Will can provide peace of mind for individuals and families, so they are committed to providing the best service possible. If you are looking for an experienced, trusted Will writing firm in Canterbury, Aylsham and across Kent that puts your needs first, contact SLS Wills and More today to book your appointment. Make sure to mention where you heard about them when booking. It is worth noting that SLS Wills and More services are not limited to South East England and that Sara and her team can support families, individuals and business owners across England and Wales. The full extent of our services can be found here – on our website, but encompass Will Writing, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Trusts, Document Storage, and Estate Administration. We offer a fixed fee service (no hourly rates) and a free consultation so you’ll always get our advice and fees before you decide to proceed. The importance of having a valid Will in place is something SLS Wills and More take very seriously and it pains us when we get calls from grieving families where little or no planning was in place and they have lost a loved one. Don’t just take our word for it: W. Hudson: “A very pleasant and professional lady who made writing my will an easy experience for me to understand.” S. Luke: “Sara Shepperd of SLS wills was excellent in all respects when my wife and I made mirror wills. She came to our house to discuss our requirements and sent draft wills shortly afterwards. When approved she came back for the signing. She was always clear in her explanations. She provided a very personal service at a very reasonable cost. We have no hesitation in highly recommending her.”