Planning For Your Future

At Talbots Law, we understand the significance of proactive preparation in ensuring a secure future for you and your loved ones.

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None of us knows what the future holds, but with the right legal planning in place, you can protect the people you love and gain real peace of mind.

Here at Talbots, our Wills and Probate solicitors are here to help you make informed, confident decisions about the future. Whether you’re writing your first Will, putting Lasting Powers of Attorney in place, or managing a loved one’s estate, we’ll guide you with care, clarity and compassion.

We are a team of friendly and professional experts who are here to make sure that the right legal structures are in place to give you your desired outcome.

Our team works across all our offices, and we’re always happy to arrange home, hospital or care home visits if you’re unable to travel.

We know these are sensitive matters. That’s why we take the time to understand your circumstances and explain everything in simple terms, so you can make the choices that are right for you and your family.

If you have need support planning for your future and would like to speak with one of our expert Wills and Probate solicitors, get in touch with us today on 0800 118 1500 or complete the form below.

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Why choose Talbots’ Wills & Probate lawyers?

When you choose Talbots Law, you are in safe hands. With a wealth of experience helping individuals and families, we are experts in will writing. We’re members of the Law Society Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS) and are all Dementia Friends. Many of the team are also members of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP) and The Association of Lifetime Lawyers

We know that cost is a huge concern, which is why our highly competitive prices are fixed with you at the outset. A small investment now offers you peace of mind and protection for your loved ones.

Do I need a Will?

Dying intestate (without a will) results in the law deciding who will inherit your estate and look after your children, and will also mean that any charities and friends may be prevented from benefitting.

Where there’s a DIY will, it could be a false economy – it may not meet legal requirements in order to be valid. It may use language that is confusing or ambiguous. Worse still, the will might not reflect your wishes, potentially leading to family disputes and inadequate provision for a loved one.

Why should I make a Will?

Choose who gets what
You decide who gets your property, your money, your possessions. It doesn’t matter how much or how little you have, you decide who gets what.
Provide for those you leave behind
Making a will ensures your children are looked after by someone you trust.
Choose how to say goodbye
Set out your funeral wishes and your executor will follow those instructions, whether it’s an eco-friendly option or a more traditional one.
Choose who handles your estate
You choose your executor – someone that you know and trust who will carry out your wishes.
Protect your assets
A well-drafted will can substantially reduce the inheritance tax liability that might be payable, ensuring that more of your assets pass to your family.
You can also leave a legacy to charity. This is the perfect time to think about helping others once you’ve gone. At Talbots, we support various charities (see our website for further details) but you can, of course, select the charity that’s most important to you.

What are the benefits of a Lasting Power of Attorney?

Plan for the unexpected
We believe that it’s not about expecting the unexpected – it’s about planning for it. An LPA gives authority to someone you trust completely to act on your behalf if you become incapable of doing so.
Choose now who would look after your affairs in the future
If you have an accident, or if your mental health deteriorates, you can make the choice of who you would want to handle your affairs.
Choose an LPA for your finances or for your health – or both
An LPA for your finances takes care of what happens to your property and financial affairs. A health & welfare LPA covers your personal welfare – this includes where you live, who you live with, visitors, medical treatment, and care services. You can choose now to restrict what an attorney could and couldn’t do.
Give guidance on how your affairs should be handled
You can write a personal statement to accompany your LPA. It gives guidance on how you would like your affairs to be managed, what considerations your attorneys should keep in mind, and who they should consult for further guidance.
Ensure that your affairs are dealt with properly
Your attorney will keep accounts for all financial decisions. You can ask for regular updates to be given to you, or to your solicitor, or to another member of your family, so that you have that extra layer of protection.
Incapacity and no LPA’s?
Having no LPA’s in place can result in expensive and lengthy court applications to determine who should look after your affairs.

What happens to my home and savings if I need to go into residential care?

If a person is in a residential care home or nursing home and they have assets of more than
£23,250 (England only) then, apart from state help with the costs of ‘nursing’ care, they can expect to be self-funding. Only if your capital is less than £14,250 (England only) will it be entirely ignored in calculating how much you have to contribute to the costs of your care.

Usually, unless your house is occupied by a spouse, or a relative over the age of 60, the house will be regarded as an assessable asset when it comes to means testing for eligibility for financial help from the local authority towards costs of your care. If you have no other sources of funding available to meet the care costs then the house would normally have to be sold. This note considers some of the options available to you if you wish to avoid the risk of the house being sold to pay for the care costs of you or your spouse.

The advice set out here is based on the current law.