Most of us are very good at planning for the things we can see coming. We save for holidays, we plan birthday parties and we book the car in for its service well before the MOT is due. Yet when it comes to some of the most important decisions we will ever make, the ones about what happens to our money, our home and our care if we become unable to make decisions ourselves, it is remarkably common to put things off.
At Blackhurst Budd Solicitors we speak to people in Blackpool and across the Fylde coast every week who tell us the same thing. They always meant to sort out a Will. They always meant to think about a Lasting Power of Attorney. Life simply got in the way. This blog looks at why private client planning matters, what can go wrong when it is left too late and how our team can help you put things right, often more simply and affordably than people expect.
A Will is not just for the wealthy or the elderly
One of the most persistent myths we hear in our Blackpool office is that a Will is only really necessary once you reach a certain age or once your estate reaches a certain value. This simply is not true. If you own a home, have savings, run a business or have children, a Will is one of the most important documents you will ever sign.
Without a valid Will your estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy. These rules are rigid and they take no account of your actual wishes. An unmarried partner, however long you have been together, has no automatic right to inherit under intestacy. Stepchildren are often left out entirely. Friends, charities and causes close to your heart receive nothing unless you have named them.
A properly drafted Will lets you decide who benefits, in what proportions and under what conditions. It lets you appoint guardians for young children, set up trusts to protect vulnerable beneficiaries and plan sensibly around inheritance tax. It also gives your family clarity and reduces the risk of disputes at an already difficult time.
Lasting Powers of Attorney protect you while you are still here
A Will deals with what happens after you die. A Lasting Power of Attorney, or LPA, deals with what happens while you are still alive but no longer able to make certain decisions yourself. This could follow an accident, a stroke, a diagnosis of dementia or simply the gradual effects of ageing.
There are two types of LPA. A Property and Financial Affairs LPA allows someone you trust to manage your bank accounts, pay your bills and deal with your property on your behalf. A Health and Welfare LPA allows them to make decisions about your medical treatment and daily care, including where you live, if you become unable to make those decisions yourself.
Without an LPA in place, your family cannot simply step in if you lose capacity. Instead they must apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order, a process that is far slower, far more expensive and considerably more stressful than putting an LPA in place while you are well. We regularly help clients in Blackpool set up LPAs alongside their Wills, giving real peace of mind to the whole family.
Probate and the value of proper planning
When someone dies, their estate usually needs to go through probate before assets can be dealt with. Where there is a clear and up to date Will, this process tends to be far more straightforward. Where there is no Will, or where the Will is out of date, unclear or poorly drafted, the process can become drawn out and, in some cases, contested.
Good planning during your lifetime can also reduce the tax burden on your estate and make the practical job of administering it much easier for your executors. Our private client team supports families through probate with sensitivity as well as technical skill, understanding that behind every file is a family coping with loss.
A firm rooted in Blackpool for the long term
Blackhurst Budd Solicitors has been part of the Blackpool community for a great many years and our private client team takes real pride in supporting local families through every stage of life. We know that conversations about Wills, LPAs and later life planning can feel daunting so we take the time to explain things clearly, in plain English rather than legal jargon and at a pace that suits you.
Many of the families we work with come to us through a personal recommendation from a friend, a neighbour or a relative we have already helped. That says a great deal about the kind of relationship we try to build with our clients. We are not interested in rushing people through a standard process. We would rather sit down, listen properly to your circumstances and make sure the advice we give actually fits your family, your assets and your wishes.
Whether you are writing your first Will, updating an existing one, setting up LPAs for the first time or need advice on administering the estate of a loved one, our team is here to help. We offer clear guidance on costs from the outset and we will always tell you honestly what you need and what you do not.
Do not leave it for another day
The best time to sort out a Will or an LPA is while you are healthy and have plenty of time to think things through carefully. The worst time is in the middle of a crisis, when options are limited and decisions have to be rushed. If it has been on your list for a while, treat this as your reminder to finally tick it off.
To speak to our private client team about Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, probate or estate planning, get in touch with Blackhurst Budd Solicitors in Blackpool today. A short conversation now really could save your family a great deal of difficulty later on.
Call 01253 629300 to book your appointment.