A will drafted by a solicitor is the best Christmas gift for your loved ones, according to local law firm Grant Saw Solicitors
Kalpa Prajapati is a member of the Law Society’s Wills & Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS), which provides a best practice quality mark for wills and estate administration advice that consumers can trust.
Those with the most to lose if they die without a will include co-habiting couples who are not married or in a civil partnership.
More than one million** unmarried couples with dependent children are living in the UK. Recent changes to the intestacy rules strengthened the position of married spouses and civil partners, but left the position of cohabiting couples unchanged.
Intestacy is where the state decides who inherits if someone dies without a will.
Only partners who are married or in a civil partnership can inherit under the rules.
Kalpa Prajapati said:
“For many people, the festive season is all about spending time with loved ones. So we urge people to reflect on that this Christmas and think how they would feel if you died and they received nothing.
“No one likes to think too carefully about their own demise, but ensuring your final wishes are made clear and legally recognised is the best gift for your family this Christmas.
“You can return those awful socks and loud jumper to the shop and get a refund, but there’s no going back if you die without a will.”
“Consumers need to be able to distinguish between those who are unregulated, uninsured and untrained, and solicitors who offer a quality service.
For more details on the Law Society Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS), visit the website.
This is not legal advice; it is intended to provide information of general interest about current legal issues.