A step that often causes family members additional stress and anxiety when someone dies is locating the deceased’s important documents. This includes the Will, which details the Testator’s wishes regarding how they want their estate to be distributed. Unfortunately, locating a Will and other important documents can sometimes be a difficult and time-consuming process for loved ones coming to terms with a death. This blog answers frequently asked questions about locating the Will to help you navigate this stressful time. The blog explores how to find a Will, what happens if you can’t find a Will, and the benefits of storing estate planning documents with a professional storage provider.

When creating a Will, it’s important to consider who will be taking care of your estate upon your death. There are many roles involved in the estate administration process that may include the named Executor(s) and Trustee(s). In this blog, we will explain the role of a Trustee in a Will, how they are appointed, and the difference between Trustees, Executors, and beneficiaries.

Executors are people chosen and named in a Will by the Testator, who is the individual whose Will it is. The Executors of a Will are responsible for administering the estate of the Testator when they have passed away. Up to four Executors can be named in a Will, and it’s best practice to name at least two.

A codicil is a legal document that’s used to modify, add to, or revoke certain provisions of an existing Will. Instead of spending time and money writing an entirely new Will, a person can use a codicil to make minor changes or updates.

In the UK, the Executor of a Will is responsible for managing the estate of a deceased person, paying any debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets according to the terms of the Will. The specific duties of an Executor may include:

What are the UK rules of intestacy? When someone dies without a Will, they are said to have died intestate, and their estate must be distributed following the rules of intestacy.

When someone dies without leaving a Will, it is known as dying intestate. Intestacy can complicate the probate and estate administration processes, as the law decides who will deal with the estate and who will inherit from it. In this blog, we aim to answer frequently asked questions about the processes involved when someone dies without a Will in the UK.

Many people acquire assets across popular European destinations, such as holiday homes and bank accounts. It’s crucial to ensure that these assets are accounted for during the estate planning process. However, there is often a great deal of confusion around how to incorporate these assets into an estate plan to protect loved ones in the event of death.

For many families, discussions about death are difficult to initiate. For those who do manage to have the conversation, it’s often an uncomfortable one to have, as it can be difficult to envisage how life will be without a loved one. Unfortunately, it's inevitable that we will all experience a loss at some point during our lifetime, and in many cases, this happens without previous discussion and little planning in place, which ultimately makes a difficult time even more challenging.