Can you believe that 2014 will soon be drawing to a close and Christmas will be here once more? As the festive season approaches and we all get inundated with images of Christmas Fayre and Monty The Penguin, you may think that Wills and Estate Planning are the last thing on peoples' minds. Well, in our experience, the Christmas lull has never quite happened during December, in fact many clients are more keen than ever to ensure their affairs are in order ready for the New Year. It’s worth being prepared for the Christmas rush rather than the Christmas lull and perhaps reminding your clients of the benefits of making their will, whatever the time of year;

- Unmarried Couples

The law doesn't recognise this status. Unless a Will has been made, common law partners may get nothing at all from an estate. Lasting Powers of Attorney are even more important as neither partner is entitled to manage any of the affairs of the other person without this document.

- Children

Without a Will, the courts will decide who should bring up your children. A Will enables guardians to be appointed for children under the age of 18

- Care Fees

With a Will, you can help to preserve the family home from being used for Care Fees and secure the financial future of your family

- Pets

If you have your own special Monty the Penguin, make sure you create a will to state who will take care of him/her should the unexpected happen.

So whilst the Christmas spirit is certainly making it’s way to BTWC HQ, we’re more active than ever in ensuring your clients preparations are in place to ensure they enter the New Year with peace of mind that everything is in order.

Wishing you a Merry (and busy!) December