Wills: A Practical Guide

This new edition of Wills: A Practical Guide explains what is involved in making a will, with particular reference to avoiding those issues which often given rise to litigation. Information is provided on the formalities for making a will, the rules on testamentary capacity and related issues, which may affect the validity of the will. There are sections on less common aspects of will-making which often cause problems for practitioners including gifts for the benefit of pets, gifts to employees, gifts of business interests, mutual (as distinguished from mirror) wills, testamentary options, burial and other requests and dealing with property overseas. These matters are dealt with in the context of the new rules on interpretation of wills resulting from the Supreme Court’s decision in Marley v Rawlings.

The inheritance tax implications of will planning and drafting are covered along with typical strategies for dealing with family wealth by making best use of the exemptions and reliefs available. There is also a chapter aimed at dealing with drafting pitfalls and, more importantly, how to avoid them. Problems can arise if the existence of a will is uncertain and so there is a helpful section on storing and locating a will. The book also features a selection of useful precedents and checklists.