Getting your legal affairs in order probably isn’t top of your to-do list. It’s easy to put off writing a Will or making a Lasting Power of Attorney, especially when life is busy. But putting the right arrangements in place now can provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones, whatever the future holds.
If it’s been a while since you reviewed your plans, or if you’ve never got around to making them in the first place, we’re here to help you sort your legal life out.
Why do you need a Will?
Making a Will is the most important step you can take to ensure your wishes are respected after you die. A Will gives you control over what happens to your money, property, and personal possessions in the event of your death.
Without a Will, your estate is distributed in accordance with the Intestacy Rules and the beneficiaries may not be who you would choose or expect. For example, cohabiting but unmarried partners, certain extended family members, friends or charities you care about won’t inherit anything unless you specifically name them in your Will. This can leave loved ones vulnerable and cause unnecessary stress and conflict at a difficult time.
A Will also allows you to:
- Appoint guardians to care for your children if they are under 18
- Choose trusted people to act as your executors (the people who will administer your estate and carry out the wishes set out in your Will)
- Make specific gifts to individuals or charities
- Reduce the risk of family disputes over your estate
- Plan for tax implications, helping you to make the most of what you leave behind
Keeping your Will up to date
Even if you already have a Will, it’s important to review it regularly – ideally every 5 years or after any significant life changes. Major life events like marriage, divorce, the birth of children or grandchildren, or a change in your financial situation can all affect how your Will should be worded. Taking time to review your Will could avoid problems later on.
You should consider:
- Whether your financial situation has changed significantly since you last updated your Will
- Whether you have bought or sold any property or other assets, or moved house
- Whether you would like to make any changes to the individuals or charities named in your Will, or the details of any specific gifts
- Whether the guardianship arrangements for any children under 18 are still appropriate
- Whether your chosen executors are still the right people for the role
Why You Should Consider a Lasting Power of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you cannot do so yourself – whether due to illness, accident, or a loss of mental capacity.
Anyone over 18 can make an LPA, but an LPA must be set up while you still have the mental capacity to do so. That’s why it’s something to take care of now, in case the unexpected happens.
There are two types of LPA:
- Property and Financial Affairs LPA – covers decisions about money, bills, property, and financial matters.
- Health and Welfare LPA – covers decisions about your care, medical treatment, accommodation and daily routines.
Setting up an LPA now means you remain in control of who makes decisions for you in the future. If you don’t have an LPA and lose the capacity to make decisions for yourself, the Court will appoint someone on your behalf and this may not be the person you would have chosen. Your loved ones may need to go through a lengthy and costly court process to obtain the legal authority to act on your behalf.
Whether you’re planning ahead for later life or simply want to be prepared for the unexpected, putting an LPA in place is a practical and reassuring step for both you and your family.
We’re Here to Help
At Cartridges Law, we understand that making plans for the future can feel daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. Our friendly, experienced team is here to make the process straightforward and stress-free, offering clear advice tailored to your needs.
Whether you’re making a Will for the first time, updating an existing one, or setting up an LPA, we’re here to help you get everything in place. You can also save money by choosing one of our fixed-fee Wills and LPA bundles.
| Individual Package – save £240 | Joint Package – save £360 |
| Standard* Will Property and Financial Affairs LPA Health and Welfare LPA £1,075.00 + VAT Plus total Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) registration fees** | Standard* Will x 2 (Mirror Wills) Property and Financial Affairs LPA x 2 Health and Welfare LPA x 2 £1,425.00 + VAT Plus total Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) registration fees** |
*Excludes Trusts. All fixed fee work is based upon standard procedure. Any additional work will be discussed before being undertaken and is subject to our standard fees.
**Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) registration fees apply and cost £92.00 per LPA. There are certain remissions and exemptions to the OPG fees and we will check to see if you can apply for these.
Contact us to discuss your requirements.