We asked Michael Graham, a Director and Head of Private Client at Cleaver Fulton Rankin Solicitors, to share with us his expert knowledge of making a Will.
Read on to find out more about how to choose an executor, things to consider and the real reasons why making a Will can be so important to the people you love.
Why should I make a Will?
Making a Will is the only way you can be certain that your estate passes to the people you want it to. Statistics show that as few as one in three people have made a Will and that’s not counting those people who have Wills that are out of date, tax inefficient or generally inappropriate for their needs.
What happens if I don’t make a Will?
The main risk is that your estate will pass under the rules of intestacy to people that you did not choose as beneficiaries, and in some cases to people that you don’t like! It can also lead to litigation and tax problems in more complex estates.
Why don’t more people make a Will?
Many people mistakenly think their estate isn’t large enough to warrant making a Will. The fact is that if you have any assets at all, making a Will ensures they go to the people you want to benefit (your beneficiaries) when you die. Other people simply never get around to it and it’s the kind of thing people keep putting off. As with all things, the sooner you do it the better.
Where do I start when making a Will?
Talk to a solicitor – the overall cost is usually much more affordable that you might think. Professional advice is invaluable.
Think about your estate – your assets – and how you might want it to be divided and among whom. You will also need to think about choosing one or more executors. Just making a few notes provides a good start for you solicitor who will know what questions to ask to make sure everything is taken care of as per your wishes.
What is an Executor and what do I need to think about when appointing one?
An executor is a person who carries out the instructions in your will when you die. You can choose anyone over eighteen to be an executor. For example, a spouse, civil partner or adult children. And you can choose as many people as you like, within reason. The most important quality is that these are people you trust. Executors can also be professional advisors, for example a solicitor, accountant or a trust company.
What if I want to leave a gift to a charity?
This is very easy to do – in fact, hundreds of people do it every year in Northern Ireland. Your solicitor should be familiar with how to write such a gift into your Will. Or you can contact Will to Give and ask for more details – they’re the experts in this area and have done so much to encourage charitable gift giving to all kinds of charities, large and small.
More about Michael
Michael Graham is a founder member of Will to Give and a passionate advocate of enabling people to give charitably in their Will.
“I support a number of charities through membership subscriptions and so on but I would say that the charity that means most to me is the Alzheimer’s Society. My wife’s grandparents have both suffered from different forms of dementia and I know first-hand what a terrible illness it is.
In my work, I also see many clients with either early or advanced dementia and I think I understand the condition better than most. I get frustrated when people dismiss it as a ‘normal’ part of ageing because it is most certainly not.
The last couple of years have brought a number of interesting medical breakthroughs so I hope that a cure can be found in the not too distant future – otherwise the signs are that the number of cases is on the increase and the pressure on families and the health trusts going forward could be immense.”
If you have a cause or charity close to your heart that you would like to benefit from a charitable gift in your Will, we’d love to hear about it – Ask Will to Give for more information.
Email info@willtogive.org.org.s214960.gridserver.com, like Will to Give on facebook or follow us on twitter.
