The WillMaker Group - Norwich

21/08/2026

A great way to end the week with a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ client review.

⭐Wills
⭐Powers of Attorney
⭐Trusts
⭐IHT Planning
⭐Probate

Call 01362 288582
www.thewillmaker.co.uk

19/08/2026

Do You Really Need a Will? 7 Reasons Every Adult Should Consider Making One
“I don’t need a Will. My family will get everything anyway.”
It is one of the most common assumptions people make.
Unfortunately, it is not necessarily true.
If you die without a valid Will, the law decides who inherits your estate under the intestacy rules. Your wishes, however clear they may have been during your lifetime, may not determine what happens.
So, do you really need a Will?
https://www.thewillmaker.co.uk/do-i-need-a-will/
Here are seven reasons why you should consider making one.
1. You decide who inherits
A Will allows you to choose your beneficiaries.
Without one, the intestacy rules determine who inherits.
That may produce a result that is very different from what you intended.
2. You can provide for your children
If you have children, you may want to decide exactly what they inherit and when.
A Will can include provisions for children who are under 18 and can establish arrangements for managing their inheritance.
3. You can appoint guardians
Parents of young children often worry about what would happen to their children if both parents died.
A Will allows you to nominate guardians.
Although the appointment is not the only factor considered by the court, it gives you the opportunity to record your wishes formally.
4. You can protect your partner
Marriage and cohabitation are not legally identical.
An unmarried partner does not automatically have the same inheritance rights as a spouse.
A properly drafted Will can therefore be particularly important for unmarried couples.
5. You can plan for inheritance tax
A Will can form part of a wider estate planning strategy.
This is increasingly important because IHT rules are changing.
From April 2027, most unused pension funds and pension death benefits are due to be brought within the IHT estate.
The rules surrounding agricultural and business assets also changed in April 2026.
6. You can make your wishes clear
A Will is not just about money.
You can also include funeral wishes, guardianship provisions and other instructions.
Clear documentation can reduce uncertainty for your family at an already difficult time.
7. You can review it as your life changes
Your Will should not necessarily be something you write once and forget.
Marriage, divorce, children, grandchildren, property purchases, business ownership and changes to your finances can all be reasons to review your estate plan.
The law can change too.
For example, IHT thresholds are currently fixed at £325,000 for the Nil Rate Band and £175,000 for the Residence Nil Rate Band, with the government having announced that these thresholds are to remain fixed through the 2030/31 tax year.
A Will is ultimately about control.
Who should receive your assets? Who should look after your children? Who should deal with your estate?
If you don’t make those decisions yourself, the law may make them for you.
For professional Will writing and estate planning in Dereham, Norfolk and surrounding areas, The WillMaker Group can help you put your wishes into place.
https://www.thewillmaker.co.uk/do-i-need-a-will/

17/08/2026

Agricultural Property Relief and Business Relief: What Changed in April 2026?
For farmers, landowners and business owners, 6 April 2026 marked a significant change to Inheritance Tax planning.

Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) have traditionally been powerful tools for reducing or eliminating IHT on qualifying agricultural and business assets.

However, the rules have now changed.

From 6 April 2026, the amount of qualifying agricultural and business property that can receive 100% relief is subject to a £2.5 million allowance. Property above the available allowance can generally qualify for relief at 50% rather than 100%.

Why is this important for farmers?
Consider a farming family with qualifying agricultural assets worth £4 million.

Under the previous rules, qualifying property could potentially receive 100% APR, meaning it could pass without an IHT charge attributable to that property.

The new rules mean that the first £2.5 million may qualify for 100% relief, subject to the detailed rules, while the excess may receive 50% relief.

That means part of the value can potentially become exposed to IHT.

This is a major consideration when deciding how a farm should be passed to the next generation.

What about married couples?
There is potentially some good news.

Unused 100% APR/BPR allowance can be transferred from a deceased spouse or civil partner to the surviving spouse or civil partner.

This means that, in appropriate circumstances, a surviving spouse could potentially have up to £5 million of 100% relief allowance available.

This makes the drafting of the first spouse’s Will particularly important.

A Will that simply leaves everything to the surviving spouse may be perfectly appropriate in many families, but it should not automatically be assumed that this is the best structure for every farming or business-owning family.

Business owners need to review their position too
The changes do not only affect farmers.

They also affect owners of qualifying businesses and certain business interests.

The £2.5 million allowance applies to the combined value of qualifying agricultural and business property.

Certain shares, including shares traded on markets which do not meet HMRC’s definition of a listed market, such as AIM shares, can also have different treatment and may only qualify for 50% relief.

Could your Will make a difference?
Absolutely.

The Will itself does not create APR or BPR.

However, the way assets are left can have a significant impact on how allowances and exemptions operate.

It is therefore important to consider:

Who should inherit the farm or business?
Should ownership be divided?
Should some assets pass to a spouse?
Could a trust have a role?
How will the inheritance tax bill be funded?
What happens if one child takes over the business while others receive different assets?
What happens if the farm or business is sold after death?
These are not simply tax questions.

They are family succession planning questions.

For farming and business families across Norfolk, early planning is increasingly important.

The new rules do not necessarily mean that every farm or business will face an IHT bill, but they do mean that assumptions based on the old rules should be revisited.

https://www.thewillmaker.co.uk/agricultural-business-property-relief-changes-2026/

This article is general information. Agricultural and Business Relief rules are complex and professional tax advice should be obtained where significant assets are involved.

14/08/2026

Inheritance Tax and Pensions: What the 2027 Changes Mean for Your Estate:

From 6 April 2027, one of the biggest changes to UK inheritance tax planning for many years is due to take effect: most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will come within the scope of Inheritance Tax.

For many people, this changes the way an estate should be planned.

For years, pensions have often been an important part of estate planning because unused pension funds could potentially pass to beneficiaries outside the normal IHT estate, depending on the type of pension and the circumstances. From April 2027, that planning opportunity will be significantly reduced.

HMRC has confirmed that, from 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included when calculating the value of an estate for IHT purposes.

Why does this matter?

Imagine someone dies owning a home worth £600,000, investments and savings of £300,000 and a pension worth £500,000.

Under the rules applying before April 2027, the pension may not necessarily have formed part of the estate for IHT purposes.

From April 2027, however, the pension may be brought into the calculation.

That could make the difference between an estate falling below the available allowances and an estate becoming liable to inheritance tax.

The standard rate of IHT remains 40% on the taxable portion of an estate.

Does everyone with a pension need to worry?

No.

The government estimates that most estates will still have no IHT liability after the pension changes. However, HMRC estimates that around 10,500 estates could have an IHT liability where previously they would not, while approximately 38,500 estates could pay more IHT than under the previous treatment.

The important point is therefore not simply whether you have a pension.

It is the overall value and structure of your estate.

Your home, savings, investments, business interests, agricultural property, gifts and pension benefits may all need to be considered together.

What should you do now?

If you have a substantial pension, it may be time to review your estate plan.

That does not automatically mean withdrawing money from your pension. In fact, taking money out simply to avoid a future IHT charge could create other tax and investment consequences.

Instead, consider the bigger picture.

Who will inherit your pension?

Who will inherit your home?

Have you used your available IHT allowances?

Have you made lifetime gifts?

Could a trust be appropriate?

Are your pension beneficiary nominations up to date?

And does your Will still reflect what you actually want to happen?

Why professional estate planning matters

The changes demonstrate why estate planning cannot be treated as a one-off exercise.

A Will written several years ago may still be legally valid but no longer produce the result you expect when tax legislation changes.

For clients in Norfolk, Dereham and Norwich, a review of the whole estate can help identify where the risks and opportunities now lie.

The April 2027 pension changes make this particularly important for anyone with significant pension wealth.

The WillMaker Group provides professional Will writing and estate planning advice across Norfolk. If your pension forms a significant part of your wealth, now is a good time to review how it fits into your wider estate plan.

This article is general information and does not constitute individual tax or financial advice. Pension and inheritance tax rules can change and individual circumstances differ.

From 6 April 2027, one of the biggest changes to UK inheritance tax planning for many years is due to take effect: most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will come within the scope of Inheritance Tax.

13/08/2026

Another year of compliance with the Society of Will Writers adhering to their code of conduct and ensuring everything we do for our clients is to the highest standards!
Call 01362 288582
www.thewillmaker.co.uk

13/08/2026

Do I Need a Lasting Power of Attorney as Well as a Will📜📃
Many people create a will and assume their future planning is complete.
However, a will only takes effect after death.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) protects you while you are still alive.
Together, a will and an LPA form the foundation of a comprehensive estate plan.
What Does a Will Do?
A will allows you to:
• Decide who inherits your estate
• Appoint executors
• Name guardians for children
• Leave gifts to loved ones
Your will only becomes effective after your death.
What Does a Lasting Power of Attorney Do?
An LPA allows trusted individuals to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity or become unable to manage your affairs.
There are two types:
Property and Financial Affairs LPA
This allows attorneys to manage:
• Bank accounts
• Bills
• Property transactions
• Investments
Health and Welfare LPA
This allows attorneys to make decisions about:
• Medical treatment
• Care arrangements
• Living arrangements
What Happens Without an LPA?
If you lose capacity without an LPA in place, your family may need to apply to the Court of Protection.
This process can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful.
An LPA allows decisions to be made more quickly and efficiently.
Why Do I Need Both?
A will protects your wishes after death.
An LPA protects your interests during your lifetime.
Together they provide complete protection for you and your family.
Estate Planning for Norfolk Families
At The WillMaker Group, we help Norfolk residents put both wills and LPAs in place to ensure they are protected whatever the future may bring.
Contact us today to discuss your options and secure peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.
Call 01362 288582
www.thewillmaker.co.uk

12/08/2026

Who would you choose to make decisions on your behalf❓
Thinking about the future isn’t always easy 🤔
But putting the right plans in place can give you and your loved ones real peace of mind ♥
A Lasting Power of Attorney,📃 or LPA, allows someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you’re ever unable to do so.
And one of the most important parts of an LPA… is setting out your instructions and preferences.
So, what’s the difference?
Instructions are legally binding❗
They are rules your attorney must follow — no exceptions.
Preferences, on the other hand, are your wishes and guidance.
They help your attorney understand what matters to you, while still allowing flexibility if things change.
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With a Health and Welfare LPA 👨🏻‍⚕️, you can guide decisions about your care and wellbeing.
You might include instructions such as:
whether your attorney can make decisions about life-sustaining treatment or requirements around your diet, beliefs, or medical care.
You can also include preferences like where you’d like to be cared for, your daily routine, or even the simple things that make life enjoyable, like hobbies and social time.
————————————————————————–
A Property and Financial Affairs LPA 💶covers decisions about your money and assets.
You can set clear instructions —
for example, placing limits on selling your home,
or how your money should be managed.
And you can add preferences too —
such as supporting family members,
making charitable donations,
or ensuring your quality of life always comes first.
———————————————————————–
Putting these wishes in place means the people you trust can act with confidence, knowing they’re making decisions the way you would have wanted.
Because an LPA isn’t just a legal document, it’s your voice for the future.
Call 01362 288582

Expert Will Writing, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Trusts and Probate services across Norfolk & North Suffolk - Free consultations available in person, online or at home.

03/08/2026

📜Face to Face Will Writing 📜
We are dedicated to providing our clients with a personal face to face will writing & estate planning service throughout Dereham, Norwich and Norfolk.
Our will writers can help you with your
✔Wills
✔Powers of Attorney
✔Trusts
✔Property Protection
✔Probate & Estate Administration
✔Inheritance Tax
We offer initial FREE Office (Dereham), home visits or online (video link) consultations, to offer you expert advice on all your estate planning & financial needs.
Call 01362 288582 or visit our office
Signpost House, Dereham, NR20 3TL
www.thewillmaker.co.uk

24/11/2025

Professional Will Writing, covering Dereham, Norwich & Norfolk - Wills - Property Protection - Trusts - Powers of Attorney

05/09/2025

❗Protect What Matters Most❗ Why a Professionally Written Will Is Essential for you and your Family📃

When it comes to securing your family’s future, a Will is one of the most important documents you’ll ever create. Yet many people put it off—or settle for a DIY option—only to leave their loved ones facing stress, uncertainty, and even costly disputes. A professionally written will removes that risk and gives you complete peace of mind.

For parents, the question of guardianship is vital. Who would care for your children if the unexpected happened?
With a professionally drafted will, you—not the courts—make that decision, ensuring your children are raised by someone you trust.

If you’re a homeowner or approaching retirement, your property and assets represent years of hard work. Protecting them properly ensures they go exactly where you intend, without unnecessary complications or delays.
A professional will writer can also help structure your estate to minimise tax burdens and maximise what your loved ones receive.

Grandparents, too, can take comfort in knowing they’re providing for future generations—whether that’s leaving financial security, treasured heirlooms, or even setting up support for education.

At its heart, a Will isn’t just about distributing possessions, it’s about protecting the people you care about most.
By having your will prepared by a professional, you make things easier for your nearest and dearest at a difficult time, while safeguarding their future.

Ready to protect your loved ones’ future❓
Book your free consultation today and take the first step towards complete peace of mind.
Call 01362 288582
www.thewillmaker.co.uk