Planning for the future

Protecting your family’s financial wellbeing in the future really depends on the plans you put in place today. To secure your family’s future, you need an effective Will & Estate Plan.

Wills and estate planning involves being specific about exactly how you wish your assets to be distributed at the time of your death. Your Will, or estate plan, can also cover other important considerations such as who you would like to nominate to look after your dependents.

A properly structured Will is the only way to ensure that your estate will be handled according to your wishes so it really should be regarded as an essential part of your life planning.

Baker Wilson Davies has extensive experience in formulating Wills and estate plans. We can help you draw up a comprehensive Will, estate plan or multi-generational plan and provide you with advice regarding the legal implications of your intentions. It’s all about making sure your estate is protected and distributed according to your wishes.

Estate Administration following death

An “estate” usually refers to all of a person’s affairs that remain outstanding at their death. It includes assets and liabilities.

An Executor’s duty (or an administrator’s duty if there is no Will) is to get in the estate assets, pay funeral and administration expenses, debts and taxes and then distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the Will (or the laws of intestacy if there is no Will).

There are many steps and aspects to estate administration, some of which can be confusing at a time of grief. Our specialist staff have the professionalism, experience and empathy to help clients through these difficult times.

Our services include:

• Preparing a legal Will for you in plain English which reflects your wishes
• Retaining your Will in safe custody
• Acting as Executors of your Will at the time of your death
• Preparing Powers of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship appointments
• Set up trusts if required
• Obtaining a grant of Probate (if Will) or Letters of Administration (if no Will)
• Administration and finalisation of estates, acting for Executors (if Will) or Administrators (if no Will)
• Advising beneficiaries under a Will or intestacy (if no Will)
• Acting for persons eligible to make a family provision claim against an estate
• Acting for estates in defending such claims.

To find out more, please contact our Wills and Estates Specialist