The future can seem a long way off; the reality, of course, is that it’s not. This is why planning ahead and making the right decisions today will give you and your family peace of mind.

Birkett Long’s wills solicitors will provide practical advice to guide you and your family through the maze of procedures, rules and finances. Our aim is to make the journey simple for you, enabling you to focus on what is most important whilst ensuring that provisions are in place, your needs are met and your wishes are followed.

Planning ahead and making the right decisions today will give you peace of mind, knowing your personal and financial affairs are organised in the ways you want them to be.

Why you need a will

A will ensures that your property is dealt with properly, preserves your assets accordingly, makes the best use of inheritance tax and, most importantly, ensures that your family is looked after.

When professionally drafted, a will makes clear how your estate will be distributed, providing clarity to your family at a difficult time. Not having a will can lead to problems, as arguments can ensue, further costs can be incurred and your estate could be distributed in a way that you may have not intended.

A bespoke will is, therefore, the best way to ensure these issues don’t crop up when you are gone.            

The types of wills

• Single Will – A single will is a standard bespoke will. It is ideal for those who do not have a lot of joint property or those who wish to keep their affairs more private.
• Mirror Will – Mirror wills are two wills that, as the name suggests, mirror each other. They are ideal for married partners who hold property, bank accounts, shares etc. allowing them to decide how their estate is to be distributed. If you and your partner both wish to leave everything to each other and then your children, mirror wills are the best way to do it.
• Trusts Wills – Wills can also include trusts. These can be used for a number of functions, including protecting your share of a property, ensuring certain assets are used by your partner before being passed on to your children.

Why you should come to Birkett Long for your will

We have a large team of experienced and dedicated advisors who are able to provide you with a bespoke will that communicates your intentions clearly. Our team are all able to advise you as to the effects of clauses in your will and are able to deal with sensitive matters personably and professionally. Our team is ranked as top tier within the Legal 500 and works extensively in the Essex community.