In a weekly column, solicitor Juliet Phillips-James casts

Her expert eye over a range of legal matters and urges anyone with any questions or problems to come forward for help.

AQWhy

is it important that I have a will in place? Will lets you decide what happens to your assets after your death and ensures that they are secure and in order and will provide peace of mind that your loved ones will be looked after in the future.

Should you pass without a will in place (intestate), there are certain rules which dictate how your assets should be divided. This may not be how you would want your assets to be divided, therefore, it is important that you write a will to ensure that you have control over how your assets are divided and ensure it is in accordance with your wishes.

Even if you already have a will, there are some matters that you may need to consider:

■ Have you divorced/re-married since you made your will? Your existing will may not consider your new spouse or children from new/previous marriage.

■ Have you purchased/sold any property since you made your will? Seek advice to ensure that the wording of your will takes into account this newly owned/sold property.

■ Do you have any dependants (eg children)? Does your will make provisions for who should care for them should they not be able to care for themselves on your passing.

■ Do you own a business? Ensure that there is provision for who should take over the business.

Once you have made your will, it is important that you keep it in a safe place. Here at Gomer Williams, we can store your wills for you to ensure that it is in a safe place on your passing.

We offer a range of packages and discounts across multiple services within our wills and probate department.

If you would like to discuss these further, please do not hesitate to contact our wills and probate team on 01554 755101.