v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 28TH AUGUST v Page 68 • The HERALD • 7th August 2025 ASK A PROFESSIONAL THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE WRITING YOUR WILL by Heritage Will Writing Writing your Will can be a daunting prospect for many people and one that o en gets “put o ”, as a result. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most important things you should address in life, particularly, once you get married, have children, or start to accumulate assets of any value. We’ve found that people o en procrastinate over writing their Will because they don’t really understand what’s involved or how to go about it, so, here are a few things you need to consider that will help get you started. Whilst this article covers some of the basics, a more detailed explanation can be found by visiting www. heritagewillwriting.co.uk. Writing your Will – The Basics • You will need to appoint Executors- these are the people that will carry out the instructions in your Will. You can appoint up to four Executors, but it’s wise to appoint at least two. e Executors can also be Bene ciaries under the Will • If you have children who are under the age of 18, you’ll need to appoint Guardians. is allows you to decide who should be responsible for your children’s welfare. Guardians may also be Executors • You may wish to include a clause detailing who will take your pets, if you have any • If any assets are placed in Trust under the Will, you’ll also need to appoint Trustees. ese are the people who will look a er any assets placed in Trust • You should include any speci c instructions you have regarding your funeral arrangements. For example, do you wish to be cremated or buried? Are there any speci c requests about the Funeral Ceremony or arrangements? • You don’t need to list everything that you own in your Estate, but you do need to consider any speci c gi s that you wish to make in your Will. ese gi s will cover those personal possessions that you wish to go to speci c people - items of jewellery, for example. ese gi s may also include smaller amounts of money le to speci c people or organisations, i.e. charitable donations • Who do you want the residue of your Estate to go to? e residue of your Estate is everything le a er any speci c gi s (if any) and a er payment of all debts, taxes and expenses. You don’t need to itemise the residue, you can simply decide what portion each bene ciary is to receive, if you are naming more than one • What would happen if? is is a question you should also ask. For example, what would happen if a bene ciary were to pass away before you do? You may wish to consider appointing reserve bene ciaries to ensure that your estate goes to the right people • If in doubt, always seek professional advice If you need any help or advice in relation to writing your Will, please contact us on 02380 879243 or email info@heritagewillwriting.co.uk Upcoming Oakhaven Business Club Networking Events Oakhaven Business Club runs regular networking events with local businesses across the New Forest, Waterside and Totton. Businesses can pay-as-you-go per person per session, or become an annual member. Tuesday 12th August, 9.30am–11.30am, New Forest Walk and Work, a 1 hour walk at the tall trees trail, followed by tea/co ee and cake at Rhine eld House Hotel, £15pp. Tuesday 9th September, 9.30am–11.30am, New Forest Walk and Work, a 1 hour walk at Beaulieu, followed by tea/co ee and cake, £15pp. Wednesday 10th September, 12noon-2pm, Oakhaven Business Club lunch at e Crown Stirrup in Lyndhurst with guest speaker Claire Pratley from Barclays, £20pp. For more information about how to join the Oakhaven Business Club or to book a space for one of their networking events please visit: www. oakhavenhospice.co.uk/oakhaven-business-club
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