REASONS FOR MAKING A WILL
HAVE YOU BEEN NAMED AN EXECUTOR OR A BENEFICIARY IN A WILL?
If you have been named an executor in a Will it means that you have been trusted with dealing with the affairs, the assets and the estate of a deceased person. Often this duty falls upon a son or a daughter or a relative of a deceased and it can be a very stressful time occurring shortly after a significant loss. If you have been named as an executor it is because the person who has done so trusts you to administer their estate and distribute their assets in accordance with the instructions in their Will. It can be difficult at a time of loss to deal with such matters. The process of extracting a Grant of Probate (which is the document that allows you to handle and distribute the assets of a deceased person) can be lengthy and somewhat over complicated at times.
At Flanagan Solicitors we understand that you may be grieving and that this may be difficult for you and we will take the time to assist you through this process.
If you wish to discuss any matter relating to the distribution of an estate after death please contact our office and we would be happy to meet with you and talk you through the process step by step.
One of the main reasons and the best advantage of making a will is that it allows you to provide for the distribution of your property by means of a clear legal document. A person who dies without a will is said to have died ‘intestate’. This means that it is left to the State, under the law of intestacy, to decide on your behalf what is to be done with your estate.
A will can ensure that proper arrangements are made for your dependants and that your property is distributed in the way you wish after you die, subject to certain rights of spouses and children. Furthermore a will allows you to provide for the special needs of family members, for example an invalid child, and it also acts as an opportunity to ensure that the absolute minimum amount of tax is paid on death.
HAS SOMEONE YOU KNOW DIED WITHOUT LEAVING A WILL?
Regrettably it is not uncommon for somebody you know or somebody you are related to, to die without having made a Will. In those circumstances, you may be a person entitled to a share of that person’s estate or indeed you may be the person entitled to extract a Grant of Administration (which is the same as a Grant of Probate other than it is granted in cases where there is no Will). You may simple wish to know whether or not some other relative, family member or friend will administer the estate of the deceased and “tidy up” their affairs after death. If you have any queries in relation to any aspects of the administration of an estate of a deceased relative, friend or family member please contact our office and we will be happy to meet with you and investigate the matter for you.
Making a will can be straightforward, but more often than not, it can be more complicated than you realise. For that reason it is advisable to have a Solicitor guide you through the confidential process of making a will.
At Flanagan Solicitors we provide a cost effective service in drafting wills We will take a professional and considered approach to the drafting of your will. We above all guarantee that your concerns will be dealt with in a caring and sensitive manner.
If you are considering making a Will please contact our office and we will send you out a questionnaire if you wish that will assist you in preparing to meet with your solicitor and instruct them in how you would like to see your estate distributed.