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Wills

It’s a fact of life that we don’t know exactly when we’re going to die. So it could be worth getting something down on paper now. Our jargon buster sheet can help, and we hope you’ll choose to use Which? Wills when you’re ready.

Wills

Executor(s) Who would you want to deal with your estate?

Funeral What kind would you want?

Guardian(s) Who would you want to care for your children?

NAME

ADDRESS

POSTCODE

NAME

ADDRESS

POSTCODE

NAME

ADDRESS

POSTCODE

NAME

ADDRESS

POSTCODE

Notes

Pecuniary legacy Who would you want to leave a fixed sum of money to?

Legacy gifts Of your possessions, who would you want to get what?

GIFT

NAME

ADDRESS

NotesAMOUNT OR %

ADDRESS

NAME

AMOUNT OR %

ADDRESS

NAME

AMOUNT OR %

ADDRESS

NAME

AMOUNT OR %

ADDRESS

NAME

GIFT

NAME

ADDRESS

GIFT

NAME

ADDRESS

GIFT

NAME

ADDRESS

(may also be referred to as Pecuniary legacy)

Pets Who would you want to care for them?

Charities Which good cause(s) would you want to leave something to?

NAME

ADDRESS

CHARITY NUMBER

NAME

ADDRESS

CHARITY NUMBER

PET

GIFT

GUARDIAN

PET

GIFT

GUARDIAN

NotesResiduary legacy Who would you want to get a share of your estate after cash, gifts, debts and legal fees have all been paid?

AMOUNT OR %

ADDRESS

NAME

AMOUNT OR %

ADDRESS

NAME

AMOUNT OR %

ADDRESS

NAME

● Administrator The name given to a personal representative if not appointed by a valid will. The administrator will usually have to obtain letters of administration to show that they are the person with legal authority to deal with the property of the deceased.● Assets Anything owned by the deceased, which together make up the gross value of an estate.● Beneficiary A person (or persons) who benefits from a will.● Bequest A gift of a particular object or cash.● Chattels Personal belongings such as jewellery, furniture, wine, pictures, books, and even cars and houses not used for business.This does not include money or investments.● Codicil A document that alters an existing will.● Estate All the assets and property of the deceased, including houses, cars, investments, money and personal belongings.

Jargon buster

but no executors appointed or willing to act.● Guardian A person who would become responsible for your children in the event of your death before your children are 18 years old.● Inheritance tax (IHT) The tax that may be payable on a transfer of value, including a transfer resulting from the deceased’s will or intestacy.● Intestate The word used to describe a person who dies without making a will.● Issue Your children and all generations arising from them – grandchildren and so on.● Legacy A gift of money or objects.● Minor A person under 18 years of age.● Personal estate or personalty The investments and belongings of a person, apart from land and buildings.● Personal representative A general term for both administrators and executors.● Principal Probate Registry The Probate Department in London, with

The most commonly used words and expressions

district registries in cities and some large towns.● Probate of the will The document issued to executors by a Probate Registry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to authorise them to administer the estate.● Probate Registry The Court that deals with probate matters.● Provision Clause in a will.● Residue What is left of the

● Excepted estate One that is less than £325,000 (in 2015-16) or more than £325,000 but less than £1,000,000, and no IHT is payable because the estate passes to a spouse or to a charity.● Executor The name given to a personal representative if appointed by a valid will or codicil. The executor will usually have to apply for probate of the will to show that they are the person with legal authority to deal with the property of the deceased.● Grant of probate The document issued by the Probate Registry to the executors of a will to authorise them to administer the estate.● Grant of letters of administrationThe document issued by the Probate Registry to the administrators of an intestate estate.● Grant of letters of administration with will annexed The document issued by the Probate Registry when there is a will

estate to share out after all the debts and specific bequests and legacies have been paid.● Testamentary capacity In making a will, a person must understand: that a will deals with the distribution of his or her estate after death; approximately what assets and liabilities he or she has; the people who he or she may wish to benefit from the will.● Testator A person who makes a will.

● Trust A legal arrangement under which assets are looked after by trustees for the benefit of the beneficiaries on the terms set out in the trust document or will. ● Trustee A person responsible for administering a trust.● Will The document in which you say what is to happen to your possessions on your death.

Not sure which will is right for you?Not sure which will is right for you? Go to which.co.uk/planner and answer 5 simple questions to find out which of our wills is best for you.

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO MAKE A WILLNow could be a good time for you to decide who you’d want to inherit your money, property and possessions when you die. Write your will online with Which? Wills and our experts can be on hand to guide you if you wish.*

Buy a will today, complete it in your own time

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*Our documents are only suitable if you are over 18 (age 16 in Scotland) and live within the United Kingdom and should only be used in the countries stated on a document. A document used in a different country may be invalid or refused registration by the relevant authority.

Our wills and codicils aren’t intended for complex family circumstances or large, complicated estates. Please make sure you own the assets that you include in your will as part of your estate. If you share ownership of a property (eg with a housing association) you should seek legal advice. If your estate exceeds the inheritance tax threshold (£325,000 for each person, less any lifetime gifts made in the last seven years) or you own business or agricultural property, you should seek tax advice and legal advice. If you own property abroad, or in a different country within the United Kingdom, you should seek advice from a legal expert in that country.