Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP

We are a long established firm of Solicitors based in Essex with offices in Colchester, Chelmsford and Clacton. We offer a comprehensive range of services from our Colchester town centre and out of town offices and our Chelmsford and Clacton offices.We provide a customer-focused service to individual and commercial clients.

Wills Guide

Executors
You must appoint Executors to carry out the instructions in your Will. Executors are often called Trustees in your Will as sometimes they hold money "on trust"; e.g. if you have children under the age of 18. It is wise to have two Executors and you may appoint a member of your family or a friend. Partnership members of our firm will be pleased to act as your Executors either alone or with a member of your family or friend.

Guardians
If you have children under 18 you may want to appoint one or two people to act as guardians. As guardianship involves a great deal of responsibility you should ask people to agree to act before appointing them. It would be advisable for them to be different persons from the Executors.

Funeral Directions
You may specify in your Will if you wish to be cremated or buried.

Beneficiaries
The main part of your estate is called "the residue". Before disposing of this you may wish to consider making specific gifts of cash or personal items (jewellery) to individual people, organisations or Charities.

The residue is all that you own in your sole name(other than the above gifts) and after deduction of funeral expenses and debts.

Here are some common examples of gifts of residue:

    * To one person (husband/wife/partner).
    * To several people (children, grandchildren, other relatives, friends).
    * To Charity. Where there is more than one beneficiary this can be in equal or unequal shares.
    * You should also consider who should benefit if a beneficiary dies before you e.g. the beneficiary's children.
    * If there is an infant beneficiary consider the age when he or she can have the gift e.g. 18, 21 or 25.

Intestacy
If you die Intestate i.e. without leaving a Will, your house, personal belongings, money in the bank and other investments could pass to a member of your family …. but not necessarily the one you would choose! At worst, the State could be entitled to everything you own!

Telephone:
01206 578282

Fax:
01206 760282

Website Address:
www.fjg.co.uk