With Spring on the way, many of us are thinking about getting up, rolling up our sleeves, and tackling the big Spring clean. With an arsenal of brooms, wipes, mops, and all the cleaning products we need, some even look forward to the opportunity to refresh the home in time for the brighter months of the year.
All that paperwork you’ve been meaning to do is just like your home unless you take the time to tidy it up, it’s going to lurk in a mess, becoming more and more of a bother. For that reason, we’re going to look at some of the matters worth reviewing this Spring to make sure that you’re still up to date with your vital legal documents.
Let’s start with your Will
It’s important to ensure you have a Will in place and that, if it has been a while, you take the time to review it. The will is how we decide who inherits our assets and, without one, they instead automatically go to whoever is first named under the laws of intestacy. Wills can also determine who is responsible for dealing with your affairs when you pass away. If you want to have a hand in where your home or more valuable assets go, then it’s time to make sure that you have a Will in place.
Why review your Will?
As mentioned, if it has been a while, then it’s wise to look over your will once again. For one, your intentions and the circumstances of your family may have changed since you last looked at it, so you might want to make some changes. Similarly, you may want to make changes if your assets have changed over time, as new assets not named on the will may be otherwise doled out automatically. If your assets have grown, you may want to reconsider Wills based on how you deal with Inheritance Tax. Since the laws regarding wills, inheritance, and tax change so often, it’s recommended that any Will in place is reviewed every 3 to 5 years.
The importance of Powers of Attorney
The term Attorney is frequently used to refer to practitioners of law, but the Powers of Attorney can apply to anyone. These increasingly important documents should be put in place roughly around the same time as you’re writing or reviewing your will. Powers of Attorney are there to determine what you wish to happen in your lifetime and who should be responsible for handling any decisions that you cannot if you ever become physically or mentally incapable of managing your own affairs.
Solicitors Based In Plymouth, Torpoint & Tavistock
At Curtis Whiteford Crocker, we have highly experienced private client teams in Plymouth, Tavistock and Torpoint. Let us help you with matters Wills; Powers of Attorney; Deputyship; Advances Directives; Probate & Estates. The sooner you resolve these matters, the sooner you can enjoy a little peace of mind. The longer you leave it, the greater your chance of not having your wishes followed.