Gardner Croft LLP

If you were to ask people whether when they die they would want their estate to pass to the people they wanted it to, the majority of people would emphatically say, yes. Unfortunately more than half of British people do not have a Will. Around 60% of parents have never made a Will. If you die without making a Will you will die ‘intestate,’ and your estate will pass under the statutory intestacy rules. The statutory intestacy rules allocate your estate to those left behind in a strict statutory order and it is quite complicated to try and do anything different. Your estate may therefore pass to people you would not want to inherit. Did you know, for example, that there is no provision in the intestacy rules for an unmarried partner? If you want to make sure your money goes to the right people, if you want to benefit your partner of many years to whom you are not married, if you want to appoint Executors, if you want to appoint guardians for your children under the age of 18, if you want to leave gifts to your grandchildren or even make some provision for your beloved Pet, then none of these will happen under the statutory intestacy rules. Moreover, If you wanted to leave bequests to charities that are important to you, you need to do this in a Will and not rely on the intestacy rules. In April and May we are proud to be supporting Pilgrims Hospices 'Make A Will' month. We will draft a Will for you in return for a donation to the Pilgrims Hospices. Please call Emma Baker or Frances Coupe for more details and make an appointment: 01227 813400 You can find more information about Make A Will month on the Pilgrims Hospices website: http://ow.ly/F3Xn50IFf8S #Canterbury #makeawill #willsandprobate