We recognise the fundamental importance of families providing for their loved ones in the event of death, whether sudden or otherwise, and offer a full and comprehensive service to our clients concerning Estate Management, particularly in the area of prudent tax planning.
Making a will, will ensure that no unnecessary stress or expense is involved to your family and loved ones. A will is probably one of the most important documents you will ever sign so it is important for a whole variety of reasons that you have proper legal advice before making your will. Making your Will with Ferrys Solicitors is usually a two stage process, although if necessary we can facilitate clients who are anxious to complete matters in one appointment. Generally we meet with you and obtain details of your personal circumstances and discuss your wishes regarding your intended beneficiaries. We will then draft your Will based on your preliminary instructions. The break between appointments gives you an opportunity to reflect on matters. At the second appointment we take you through the draft Will to ensure that it reflects your intentions and then make any amendments you wish before you sign.
An Enduring Power of Attorney is a Legal Document which enables you to choose one or more people, known as your Attorneys, to manage your personal care decisions, property and financial affairs in the future in the event of you becoming mentally incapable of doing so. It is extremely important to note that there are two stages to the Enduring Power of Attorney process, execution and, where necessary, registration. The first stage is where you execute your Enduring Power of Attorney. The document will detail the individuals that you wish to become your Attorneys in the event of you becoming mentally incapable in the future of making your own decisions. The majority of people who create an Enduring Power of Attorney choose close family members to act as their Attorneys. Once the Enduring Power of Attorney is created, it is stored in safekeeping and it may never be necessary to take any further action. If, however, you subsequently become mentally incapable of managing your own affairs, the registration process must then be put in train, following which, your Attorneys will assume responsibility for your affairs in accordance with your wishes as set out in the Enduing Power of Attorney that you previously executed.
Obviously, you should act now in order to make provision for your future needs in the event you become mentally incapable of doing so, for example as a result of a progressive illness that you contract or due to a serious accident. If you have not created an Enduring Power of Attorney in advance and you subsequently become mentally incapable of managing your own affairs, it may well become necessary for an application to be brought to the High Court to make you a Ward of Court whereby the High Court and the Wards of Court Office effectively take control of your property and affairs in order to protect same on your behalf. If however, you have taken preparatory steps in advance of any mental incapacity by creating an Enduring Power of Attorney, the individuals that you have appointed as Attorneys will be responsible for your affairs and there will be no requirement to bring an application to the High Court to have you made a Ward of Court. Creating an Enduring Power of Attorney while you have the necessary mental capacity to do so is therefore a prudent, pragmatic and financially sound decision over which you retain to control.