WILLS

Common misconceptions and a reluctance to consider our own mortality has meant that a significant proportion of the population fail to plan for the inevitable and do not make a will. Making a will is the only way to guarantee that your estate is distributed in accordance with your wishes on your death.

Have you considered how your assets will be divided on your death and how your loved ones will be financially supported?  If not, you are not alone.  Unfortunately, the law of intestacy in Scotland (which dictates how an estate is divided in the absence of a will) does not always ensure that those you might have expected or wanted to benefit from your estate will in fact benefit.   The increasing number of modern families composed of cohabiting couples and step children for example, are especially vulnerable in the absence of a will.   Many people presume that the surviving partner will automatically inherit their deceased partner’s share of a house however this is simply not the case.  A former partner might in fact be forced to raise court proceedings to receive a share of the estate.

Contrary to popular belief even marriage and civil partnerships do not guarantee security. In the absence of a will unintended beneficiaries may, in certain circumstances, benefit to a greater extent than a spouse or partner.

Making a will is the only way to ensure that your estate is divided as you wish and ensuring that your loved ones are taken care of.