Kings Court Trust firmly believes in the benefits of having a professional help draft a Will to ensure that everybody’s final wishes are made clear and carried out accurately. Drafting a Will and carefully considering what is to happen to our finances is not the most cheery of topics, but one that should be taken very seriously.

When making a Will, many people choose to use a DIY kit or online template for a variety of reasons. Research shows that 37% of us thought it would be cheaper than going through a solicitor, whilst others thought it would be quicker to do it ourselves or didn’t want a stranger knowing their business.

According to the Guardian, less than half of UK adults have drawn up a Will, which leaves more than 26 million people with no formal instructions on how their assets should be distributed after their death.

The summer Budget brought good news for those with wealth tied up in family homes as Chancellor George Osborne announced the introduction of an additional nil-rate band for a person’s main residence. However, some experts have criticised the announcement for being unnecessarily complicated and causing confusion amongst the public.

The revised Inheritance Tax (IHT) rules announced by Chancellor George Osborne during the summer’s Budget speech have appeared to cause widespread confusion across much of the public.

Following on from the recent and well publicised Ilott case, the Financial Times reports that the ruling highlights the powers at the disposal of the courts to overrule Wills.

With new Inheritance Tax (IHT) rules having been announced as part of the Government’s summer Budget, estate planning and the way in which assets are managed are in the news once again. IHT should be a prime consideration when planning how your estate is distributed and the recent rule changes are likely to lead to a number of people re-thinking their Wills should their estates be effected.

Barclays are being sued for hundreds of thousands of pounds by a woman who claims the bank’s Will writing service resulted in her losing a stake in her late father’s London home. Although the bank is contesting the reports, Telegraph Money have revealed that when the complaint was assessed by the Financial Ombudsman Service, the bank was found at fault so the complaint has been progressed to the High Court.

We appreciate that Wills are a personal and highly delicate matter, and not something to become subject to tabloid gossip. However, the Wills of numerous people – from the rich and famous to ordinary members of the public – are now available via the public record and have been subject to public scrutiny and intense interest. The Wills of the rich and famous, including Diana, Princess of Wales, Alan Turing and Winston Churchill, as well as the complicated Wills of ordinary members of the public can all be viewed by the general public.