Many people don’t plan for the future after they are gone and often assume their possessions will simply pass automatically to their spouse or children. The only certain way to ensure that your family inherits what you intend is by making a Will. This document provides a brief guide to explain some of the key considerations, uses and benefits of making a Will.

Many people, often without realising it, will come into contact at some point in their lives with a trust in one form or another. Yet trusts are widely misunderstood and often seen as something just the wealthy need be concerned with.

Throughout their history, trusts have provided people with a means of protecting their assets and controlling how they are used after they have been given away. When a person makes an outright gift to someone, either during their lifetime or on death in their will, the new owner assumes all rights over the property and may deal with it as they wish.

The benefits of drawing up a Will are widely recognised. There are also opportunities available to make provision in advance for the possibility of you becoming incapable of managing your own financial and welfare affairs during your lifetime. This becomes increasingly important as the risk of supervening mental incapacity grows through longevity, illness or accident.

Most people will never have been involved with an ‘estate’ previously and can become confused by a host of legal terms and procedural matters. It is hoped that this guide will give an idea of the steps that have to be taken and help ease the process whether you are an executor, administrator or beneficiary and whether or not professional advisors are involved.