Wills & Trust

Why make a Will?

If you die without a Will this means that you would die intestate, this means that the Government decides who gets what from your estate you run the risk of your estate passing to people you had no intention of leaving it to, and if you have children who will look after them? With a Will you can appoint a guardian to look after them should you die. Otherwise social services might intervene to decide who should care for them if both parents die.

By writing a Will, you can ensure that the correct people benefit and decide on your choice of executors, beneficiaries and guardians to make sure that your estate is dealt with in line with your wishes. At Mercury Estate Planning our aim is to make a difficult subject as easy as possible to deal with. We will listen to what you would like to achieve with your estate and then create a solution tailored to your needs. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Will Writing & Estate Planning

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows your loved ones to take care of you and your finances if you become unable to do so yourself. Nobody can get an LPA once they have lost capacity.

There are two types of LPA:

• • A "Property and Financial Affairs" LPA gives your Attorney the authority to deal with buying and selling your property, your bills, bank accounts and investments.

• A "Health and Welfare" LPA covers decisions about health and care and even deciding where someone is to live. This can only be used if someone is incapable of dealing with such matters themselves.

An LPA ensures that, should you be unable to manage your own affairs, the people you have appointed can manage your financial life on your behalf. This can save a great deal of money and distress, and will ensure that, as a vulnerable person, your affairs will be handled correctly and quickly.

If you lose mental capacity without an LPA in place, it will be necessary for your family to apply to the Court of Protection to have a deputy appointed to deal with everyday financial matters. This is a slow and very expensive process, costing thousands of pounds. If you have to use a solicitor, it could cost a lot more. If you already have an LPA in place, this will not be necessary. Mercury Estate Planning can arrange the assess your current circumstances and recommend the products that will provide the correct solution for you, your family and your assets.