Bristol Wills & Estate Planning

09/01/2025

Let's learn from the rich and famous.
The next blog in my series on Celebrity Wills and what ALL of us can learn from them is live now.

Peter Cook, comedian and co-founder of Private Eye Magazine died on this day in 1995.

After studying his publicly accessible Will, I share my tips, with some dos and don'ts on how to protect *your* own estate more efficiently – especially if you own shares in a company.

Click:
https://bristolwills.com/latest-articles/celebrity-wills/the-last-will-and-testament-of-comedian-peter-cook/

08/01/2025

I couldn't agree more.

My wife and I have had ours for many years, and I've seen many real-life cases in which having LPAs set up has saved families from thousands of pounds in costs, and of course considerable stress.

My prices are certainly more affordable than those Martin Lewis mentions.

If you'd prefer not to use my services to set up your LPAs, that's fine!
It's OK to do the paperwork yourself, and just pay the Office of The Public Guardian fees.
The forms are somewhat lengthy and the application can be refused if they're not completed correctly. It is very possible to do it though; just take your time and read every instruction carefully.

With my help or without, I recommend everyone has these vital documents in place.
The 'insurance' that LPAs provide is priceless.

Contact me if you require assistance; I'm used to the paperwork.
0117 440 1230
www.bristolwills.com/lasting-power-of-attorney/

04/01/2025

Ever wondered what happens to the fortunes of the rich and famous when they pass on?

It's interesting to see what big stars do about writing their wills. All wills passing through probate are publicly accessible so looking at the wills of famous celebrities and personalities who've died allows us to see how their affairs were handled – or sometimes, weren't.

Rock'n'roll stars… actors… presenters… sports personalities… it can be fascinating.

I believe it can be a valuable learning experience, whether you have a huge estate valued in the millions or not, there are still tips to pick up on protecting YOUR estate and to maximise how the estate you own will be passed on.

I'm writing a series of blogs with key insights from studying the wills of the rich and famous.
Pick up some dos and don'ts – find relatable advice whether or not you have the assets, property or bank balances that these big stars had!

First, on the anniversary of her death, it's the celebrated author Fay Weldon, who passed away on 4 January 2023. You can find out what I recommend anyone writing a will should do in similar circumstances.
Read my takeaways, click:
https://bristolwills.com/latest-articles/celebritywills/the-will-of-fay-weldon/

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Bristol Wills & Estate Planning
Wills, Trusts & Lasting Powers of Attorney
Serving the Bristol & surrounding area
0117 440 1230

07/11/2024

I saw this sign in the centre of Bristol and it really struck me as a great metaphor for life. It’s unlikely that your plans for the future will never change because life throws all sorts at us. For this reason, it’s worth revisiting your Will from time to time. If you’d like me to have a look at your existing one, get in touch to arrange a no-obligation meeting.

01/08/2024

When you make a Will, you have a choice: a simple Will or a Trust Will. Trust Wills seem more complicated and they're more expensive. But it could save your family a lot of money in the long run. Having a Trust protects some or all of your assets, such as a house or money. That way, those assets aren't lost if someone inherits from you and goes on to change their Will, remarry, get divorced or squander it.

Give me a call on 0117 440 1230 or send me a DM to discuss making a Trust Will. There's no obligation - you only pay if you want to go ahead and make one.

26/07/2024

Did you know that your property may not be passed on in your Will? If you own it jointly, it may simply be inherited by the other joint owner after one dies.

For some people, especially if you have children from previous relationships, this could be a problem.

Property ownership is something I look at as part of the Will-writing process to ensure your Will passes your share to the people you want to inherit.

Not only that, I'll explain how Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trusts can help you protect both your property and your loved ones.

I can go through all of this with you in a free, no-obligation consultation.

To book an appointment, call now or send a message.

19/07/2024

Online access to Lasting Powers of Attorney is changing from 13th August 2024. I explain what's changing and what you need to do in this video.

Big changes are coming to the way you Lasting Powers of Attorney online in August 2024!In a nutshell, the existing "Use a Lasting Power of Attorney online" w...

19/07/2024

Who inherits if you don't make a Will? This is decided by the "rules of intestacy" and it may not be who you expect.

For example, your unmarried partner won't get anything even if you live together. Nor stepchildren. Even your spouse might not inherit everything - it depends on what you own.

To find out who would inherit from you, search Google for "intestacy gov.uk" to find the Government website "Intestacy - who inherits if someone dies without a will?". Then answer the questions as if someone has died.

If you don't want this to happen, give me a call or send a DM to schedule a no-obligation appointment.

11/07/2024

Why should you make a Will? Watch this video if you haven't got a Will or you're not sure if it's right for you.

Contact me on 0117 440 1230 or DM me if you'd like to chat about anything to do with Wills.

27/06/2024

If you want to make a Will and you live in (or near) Bristol, you don't have to leave home. I'll visit you.

The appointment will last about 90 minutes. We'll discuss all aspects of estate planning, including Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Inheritance Tax and Trusts.

It's no obligation, so if you don't want to go ahead you don't have to. The meeting is free - you just pay for the documents you need.

Some evening appointments and Saturday slots are also available for your convenience.

To book an appointment, call now or visit the website to send a message.

20/06/2024

A good reason for young couples to make Wills is to appoint a guardian (or guardians). These are the people who will take care of children in the event that both parents pass away while they're still under 18. If you don't do this and the worst happens, the courts decide who should do it. In other words, you lose the choice.

I have a factsheet explaining who makes a good choice of guardian and other considerations for your Will. You can download it from www.bristolwills.com

If you're ready to make a Will, contact Bristol Wills & Estate Planning online or phone 0117 440 1230.

13/06/2024

People often ask me, "What is the process for making a Will?" Broadly, I can break it down into 3 steps:

1. Book an appointment
Choose a time and a date. If you’re a couple and you both work during the day, I provide evening appointments and some Saturdays too.

2. Discuss your circumstances
We’ll discuss your aims, assets, and the options that might work best for you. There’s no obligation to go any further but I can take all the details I need to write a Will for you.

3. Sign your Will
You’ll get a draft Will to read and check. Once I’ve made the changes, I’ll visit you to sign and witness the Will if you're in the Bristol area (or post your Will if you're not).

And that’s it - your Will is now a legal document.

If it’s something you’ve been meaning to do for a while, why not get the ball rolling with step 1?

Contact Bristol Wills & Estate Planning today. Visit www.bristolwills.com or phone 0117 440 1230.