Wills
Guide to Wills in Teesside
Having a properly prepared Will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family and make sure your wishes are understood and followed after your death.
Clive Barwell provides professional advice on Wills and estate planning for individuals and families across Teesside and beyond. With extensive experience in later-life financial and estate planning, Clive can help you understand your options and make appropriate arrangements for your circumstances.
A Will is not simply about deciding who receives your money. It can also help determine who receives your property and possessions, who deals with your estate and, where appropriate, how assets are managed for children or other beneficiaries.
Will Advice Tailored to Your Circumstances
Every family is different, and a Will should reflect your individual circumstances.
Clive can help you consider important questions such as:
- Who should benefit from your estate?
- Who should act as your Executors?
- Do you need to make arrangements for children or vulnerable beneficiaries?
- Are there previous marriages or complex family relationships to consider?
- Could your estate be affected by Inheritance Tax?
- Would trusts be appropriate?
- Are there particular assets or possessions you want to leave to specific people?
- Does your existing Will still reflect your wishes?
The aim is to make sure important issues are considered before arrangements are put in place.
Professional Wills Advice in Teesside
Clive specialises in later-life legal and financial planning, including Wills, Trusts, Probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Inheritance Tax and wider estate planning.
This wider experience is particularly useful when Will planning overlaps with other financial or estate-planning decisions.
Clive’s approach is straightforward: understand your circumstances, explain the options available and help you decide what is appropriate for you.
Download the Wills Guide
My downloadable guide provides practical advice on Wills, estate planning, and related legal matters under England & Wales law. It emphasizes the importance of having a Will to avoid financial complications and family disputes after death.
Key Points:
- Why a Will Matters: Without a Will, intestacy rules apply, which may not align with your wishes and can create tax and inheritance issues. A Will ensures spouse relief, protects assets from remarriage, and allows control over when children inherit.
- DIY vs Professional: While you can write your own Will, pitfalls are common. The recommended approach is to seek professional advice, which I can provide.
- Regular Review: Wills should be reviewed at least every five years or after major life events like marriage or divorce.
- Executors & Guardians: Executors manage your estate; they can be family members, beneficiaries, or professionals if disputes are likely. Guardians should be appointed for minor children.
- Distribution of Assets: Specific gifts and legacies can be included, but avoid over-specifying. Residue (remaining estate) should be allocated clearly, with contingency plans for unforeseen circumstances.
- Excluding Family Members: Permissible under English law, but financial dependents may claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975. Document exclusions explicitly.
- Simple Will vs Complex Needs: A simple Will suits straightforward estates but is inappropriate for complex family structures, business ownership, or potential Inheritance Tax issues.
Download the Wills guide
Contact Me
Your initial consultation is at your convenience, at my expense, and without obligation. Consultations will generally be conducted online via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. After a preliminary conversation, if you live in or near Teesside, I can provide an at-home service if you prefer.