Wills and probate

What is a Will?

A will ensures that after you die, your assets, property and possessions go only to the people and organisations you choose. Your will can also include funeral arrangements, or care arrangements for young children, taking the stress from your loved ones.

Your will can include:

• A chosen executor – who will carry out your wishes after you die
• Who will benefit from your will, and how
• What will happen if your beneficiaries die before you
• What arrangements should be made for your children – for example, who should be named legal guardian, and if a trust may be put in place for them
• Funeral arrangements
• Any gifts you’d like to leave to charity

What happens if I don’t leave a will?

If you die without a will in place, your estate may be distributed according to the law, which may not align with your wishes. Unmarried partners cannot inherit from one another without a will in place, which may cause financial issue for one partner if the other passes. If your children are under eighteen, you will not have influence over who becomes their legal guardian if not specified in your will and no prior arrangements have been made.

‘Probate’ refers to the legal right to distribute a person’s estate after they have passed.

Why choose Farnworth Shaw?

At Farnworth Shaw, we can assist you in identifying the assets of your loved one – their ‘estate’ that must be settled. This includes any property, investments or possessions. We must also identify any liabilities, such as outstanding debt, to accurately determine the value of the estate.

If a will was created before they died, we can help to understand who is entitled to what, and assist in ensuring all written wishes are carried out. If no will was made, we can help you identify the beneficiaries in accordance with the rules of intestacy.