If, after your lifetime, you wish to help SURE to continue to provide assistance for local cancer patients then you must make a valid Will to include a specific gift to them.  A gift to a charity such as SURE is exempt from Inheritance Tax and may in certain circumstances reduce the Inheritance Tax otherwise payable on the rest of your estate.

We all tend to put off making a Will, but it is one of the most important documents you will ever sign. The legal requirements for a valid Will are strict and you need to know that the words used will really have the legal effect you intend.  You also need to ensure your assets are properly protected from avoidable Inheritance Tax or other unintended consequences that may arise due to a change in your or your family’s circumstances.

As a solicitor specialising in this area, I have seen the distress and expense caused to relatives at a difficult time because there is no Will or a Will has not been properly drawn or updated.

Assumptions are often made that without a Will your nearest and dearest will benefit anyway.  That is not necessarily the case and the rules which apply in the absence of a Will benefit only a spouse or civil partner and/or blood relatives: they make no provision for instance for cohabitees, step-children or step-grandchildren.  They certainly do not provide for gifts to charity.

It is important not to delay or leave it to chance and you should seek professional help in making a Will specifically tailored to suit your circumstances.  Solicitors undergo a lengthy and vigorous training and they are subject to strict professional rules which give clients additional safeguards. It may not be as expensive as you think and there may be other additional benefits.  At Broomhead & Saul Solicitors, we provide safe storage without imposing an annual charge and can register the location of your Will on the “Certainty” National Will Register free of charge.

• Do make a Will;
• Do seek professional help from a solicitor;
• Any gift you may choose to make to SURE may have tax benefits and will, in any event, be very much appreciated and put to good use.

If you would like to discuss making a Will or changing your Will, please feel free to contact me or any member of our probate team free of charge for further information on Taunton 01823 288 121 or Ilminster 01460 570 56 or visit our website.