Age Concern receives a number of enquires from people like you about making a will.

We want to ensure that you have the best possible advice about making your will and so we have set up a Scheme with reliable local solicitors to provide you with what you need.

These solicitors are independent but have joined Age Concern to respond to the needs of older people.

Why is it important to have a Will?

People who you would like to benefit from your assets after your death may not be able to. Make a will and choose who benefits!

Legal disputes, uncertainty and complications may well arise after your death.

Protect you family and loved ones from heartache and potential unnecessary conflict!

The Age Concern Scheme will offer a reduced cost of £100 + VAT for a single will. The cost for mirror wills be £140 + VAT.

• Pick a solicitor from the names on the back of this leaflet.
• Make an appointment.
• Jot down your assets and gather some basic information together – see guidelines below.
• Make a list of the family and friends you want to benefit from your Will.
• Tell them you are part of the Age Concern Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Will Scheme.
• If you want to leave something in your Will to benefit your local Age Concern Charity - inform your solicitor.

You will need to provide information on some of the following:

• Names and addresses of peole and organisations you wish to benefit
• Names and addresses of those you wish to appoint to carry out the terms of your will (Executors)
• Details of your assets including:
• House and Contents
• Car
• Jewellery
• Bank and Building Society Accounts
• Stocks and Shares
• Life insurance Policies and details
• Pension entitlements

Don’t worry if you are not sure who to appoint to carry out your will or about any other aspect of making a will. The solicitor will explain your options and allow you to make informed choices.

It Is important to remember that Wills aren’t solely about passing on your assets. You can also include specific details about your desired wishes and funeral arrangements. For more information on how Age Concern can help organise Funeral Plans click here.

A Legal Viewpoint

by Damian Lines, QualitySolicitors Rubin Lewis O’Brien

The Importance of Making a Will

From time to time we all give thought to making a Will, but somehow it gets put on the ‘back-burner’. Some people think it will ‘tempt fate’. Others think there is no point, or it is too complicated. It doesn’t have to be! Making a Will need not be complicated at all – as long as we get proper help.

By making a Will we are able to set out in black-and-white what our wishes are, and we can have confidence that our wishes will be respected. We can choose who we want to inherit, how much each of our children or grandchildren will be left, or even who will look after the cat! Especially if our family circumstances are complicated (for example, a second or third marriage) a Will can be a great way of ensuring that an inheritance is received by those who WE want to receive it.

Wills are also a great way of protecting vulnerable loved ones – for example, children with learning difficulties. They can be drawn up to prevent an inheritance from affecting their benefits entitlements and ensuring that someone is able to look after the money for them if they are unable to themselves.

Wills can also be a useful tool to reduce our liability to tax and a number of other financial considerations. Without a Will, a law made in 1925 sets out who gets what – and it is often not as we would all expect!

Make sure that when getting advice about Wills that you speak to a qualified, specialist adviser such as a solicitor on the Age Concern Will Writing Scheme.

Damian Lines TEP is a Solicitor with the firm of QualitySolicitors Rubin Lewis O’Brien with offices in St Mellons and Cwmbran. He is a Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and a member of Solicitors for the Elderly.