Function: noun
A legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property after death; especially : a formally executed written instrument by which a person makes disposition of his or her estate to take effect after death. To be binding it must be executed in accordance with statutory formalities.

Wealth & Asset Protection
We all know the value of investing in our own and our family’s future, yet more than six out of ten people have yet to make the minimum provision to protect those investments and the security of their loved ones by making a will.

Making a will probably doesn’t come top of the list of the ten most exciting things to do in a lifetime. However, it is definitely one of the most important and essential to protect those that matter to us and our hard-earned wealth and assets.

Most people are aware that they should make a will but few are aware of the consequences of not doing so. SCI’s experienced consultants can guide you through the process with ease and in the comfort of your own home. Our no-nonsense approach ensures that your requirements will be met in full and you will be able to relax in the knowledge that your affairs are at last in order. Our aim is to make the process of making your will as straight forward and simple as possible.

Did you know…….?

• Without a will your assets may be frozen for anything up to two years while the Government decides who your executors will be. This will cause enormous financial and added emotional stress to those closest to you having to deal with this.
• Without a will your children will have no appointed guardian and could be taken into care while a court appoints guardians.
• Without a will if you are not married but live with a partner they may have no legal claim to your estate and could get nothing.
• Without a will if you have step-children they too may have no legal claim to your estate and could get nothing.
• Without a will solicitors and banks will often be appointed as executors or become involved with the distribution of your wealth and assets. Their fees could run into thousands of pounds which would have to be paid from your estate.
• Without a will you may not have sufficient protection from inheritance tax. This has to be paid to the Government before your estate is distributed.
• Without an up-to-date will people could benefit from your hard-earned assets who you would prefer not to.
  

Do it right
DIY wills can be wrongly worded, incorrectly completed and misunderstood. This could mean that your wishes cannot be carried out. Appointing a bank or solicitor as executor will normally result in large fees being taken from your estate before distribution. This could mean that your family will not inherit all of your estate.

By law there is only one original will that is legal. If your will is not properly stored and looked after it could be mislaid, destroyed or tampered with which could in turn result in you dying without a will. If a will is not regularly reviewed and updated it may not reflect your wishes as changes in your life occur. This could mean that the people you care about do not benefit and other people you do not want to benefit from your estate may well do so.

If you have incorrect or no advice on inheritance tax and estate planning your loved ones could be faced with demands from the Government for payment of inheritance tax before the estate is distributed.

It is so easy to put off making your will but also something you will not live to regret! Email info@scigroup.org today and put your family’s and your own mind at rest.