Wills & Trusts

Just a guess… if you’ve thought about making a Will before but haven’t done it, you’ve probably said one of the following:

‘It’s too expensive’

‘Everything I own will automatically go to my spouse or children’

‘None of my possessions are significant enough for a Will’

...These are common misconceptions – leaving things to chance is the worst thing you can do.

Around 60% of people in the UK have not made a Will, risking their possessions, money, property and dependant children being left to someone they have not chosen.

Your Will sets out what you would want to happen to your possessions, money and property (your ‘estate’) when you pass away. If you die without a Will, the law decides what happens to your estate, and this may not be what you would have wanted.

Additionally, making a Will can reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax (IHT) your family will have to pay on your estate.

At the very least, making a Will makes a difficult time for your family much easier and less stressful. They will know exactly what your final wishes are and where to find them.

Our dedicated Will solicitors can advise you on the best course of action when writing your Will.

People often say that they haven’t done their Will yet because they think it should be left until they’re older.

However, Claire Chapman of Wosskow Brown's Property Department said: “as soon as you buy a house, you should write your Will.”

Get in touch with our Wills solicitors in Sheffield and Barnsley

Contact our friendly, expert Wills solicitors in Sheffield and Barnsley for all the help you need to make your Will.

We have local offices across Sheffield on Attercliffe Road and in Gleadless and Hillsborough, plus an office in Barnsley.

Give us a call at your nearest branch or fill in our online enquiry form and we’ll give you a call back as soon as possible.

How our Wills and trusts solicitors in Sheffield and Barnsley can help

We support people across Sheffield, Barnsley and the wider South Yorkshire area make their Will and get their final affairs in order. We also advise on a wide range of other lifetime planning matters. Our expertise includes:

  • Single and mirror Wills
  • Property protection Wills
  • Business Owner’s Wills
  • Lifetime trusts
  • Long-term care issues
  • Resolving estate matters after death
  • Free and secure storage
  • Powers of attorney
  • Court of Protection applications

Making a Will

Here are a few things we can help you use your Will to achieve:

  • Pass on your money and property to your loved ones.
  • Create family estate plans – for example, you may want your spouse to inherit everything and then everything to go to your children, in which case making a pair of mirror Wills may be right for you.
  • Provide for dependants who cannot inherit if you don’t leave a Will, such as unmarried partners and stepchildren.
  • Appoint guardians for your minor children in case you die before they turn 18.
  • Create trusts to manage how your money and property is inherited and used – for example, a trust can protect large amounts of inheritance from financially irresponsible loved ones while still supporting them.
  • Create trusts to set aside assets for children and vulnerable adults.
  • Set out your funeral wishes.
  • Safeguard your family home so your children can inherit your share even if your partner needs to move to a care home after you die.
  • Appoint people you trust to be your executors, so you know your money and property is in safe hands after you die.
  • Avoid family disputes after you die because your wishes are set out clearly and there can be no disagreement or confusion over who should inherit what.

Read more about why you should make a Will here.

We can help you update your Will throughout your life, storing it for free in the meantime. We can also provide advice about the impact of certain life events on your Will and what you need to do.

For example, getting divorced means that your ex-partner is treated as if they had died under your Will (morbid, but true). You will need to update your Will to amend what you want to happen after you die in light of your divorce. We appreciate this can be hard to wrap your head around, so we can provide all the advice you need to make confident decisions.

When should you update your Will?

The following are some key life events which could affect your estate plans and mean you need to change or update your Will:

  • Buying a home
  • Getting married or entering into a civil partnership
  • Getting divorced or dissolving your civil partnership
  • Starting a new relationship after divorce or dissolution
  • Having a child or grandchild
  • The death of a beneficiary or executor
  • Being diagnosed with an illness or having a serious accident
  • A loved one being diagnosed with an illness or having a serious accident

In any event you should review your Will every five years or so to make sure that it still reflects your wishes. Wills which have been updated regularly and purposefully over the years are much more resistant to legal challenge after you die.

Read more about updating your Will here.

Wills for Business Owners

If you’re a business owner, you will want to consider the business side of things too and write a Business Owner’s Will. You will need to consider who you want your business shares or interests to go to after you die, and who you would like to be the successor to your role in the business (succession planning).

The same applies for small business owners too, as the income from this business may be the main source of income for your family. Therefore, setting out what shall happen with the business and its income in your Will is extremely important as your family could be dependant on this.

Trusts

A trust is a legal entity for holding, managing and protecting assets (such as money and property) for someone’s benefit. The trust assets are transferring into the legal ownership of between two and four trustees who hold them on behalf of your chosen beneficiaries. The trustees can only use the assets for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

Trusts can be set up for all sorts of purposes, such as to put aside money for a child who cannot look after their own money until they turn 18, or to provide for unknown beneficiaries, such as future grandchildren.

There is also a type of trust called a Lifetime Property Protection Trust (LPPT). Its purpose is to protect the family home from claims by third parties.

The family home can be transferred to a trust by the owner (the settlor). The settlor retains a life interest in it. Upon the death of the settlor, the family home is held on discretionary trusts for the beneficiaries, which are usually the children of the settlor.

There are several benefits of setting up a Lifetime Property Protection Trust:

  • Saves probate costs – the trustees can sell your home upon your death without any need for probate.
  • The trust can protect the value of your house for the next generation, even if you or your partner need to move to a care home and pay for care fees during your lifetime.
  • Anything put in a lifetime trust can have discretionary rules which set out when assets are to be passed on to children, for example, as they may not be in a good position to inherit such property or other assets.

There is also such thing as a Business Trust, which is of great importance if you’re a business owner and takes advantage of Inheritance Tax reliefs.

Should I use a solicitor to write my Will?

You can probably guess our answer to this one – yes.

Technically you can make a Will without talking to a solicitor, but it’s not advisable. Your Will must fulfil strict legal criteria, or it can be challenged and even disregarded after you die.

Many legal cases have arisen because family members disagree about the validity or interpretation of the Will – disputes could cover anything, from whether the Will was signed properly to whether you were of sound mind when you wrote it.

These kinds of legal cases can become very long and expensive. Relatives are often prepared to fight it out to the bitter end, permanently damaging once close relationships.

Using a solicitor to write your Will ensures that:

  • Your wishes are recorded exactly how you want them to be (no room for confusion or misunderstandings after you’re gone).
  • Your Will is executed properly with no mistakes that would make it invalid.
  • All your assets are provided for, and nothing is missed out.
  • You can make complex arrangements to adequately protect your family, such as setting up trusts for vulnerable family members and children.

It can help you avoid all sorts of common mistakes and issues, including:

  • Not realising that big life changes, such as marriage, civil partnership, divorce and dissolution could affect the validity of your Will.
  • Changing your Will or making additions without executing the document properly.
  • Disinheriting people who depend on you, resulting in an inheritance claim after you die.
  • Not structuring your estate tax-efficiently, meaning your loved ones have to pay more Inheritance Tax after you die.

Should you write a Will when buying a home?

Yes – you’re acquiring a high value asset, so it doesn’t matter how young you are, making a Will is the best way to protect your property interests and make sure they’re passed on according to your wishes when you die.

Read more about making a Will when buying a home here.

Can a Will help you plan for care fees?

Yes, making a Will and setting up trusts can help you protect money and property for the next generation. Lifetime Trusts can even help if you need care during your lifetime.

Read more about care fee planning here.

Get in touch with our Wills solicitors in Sheffield and Barnsley

Contact our friendly, expert Wills solicitors in Sheffield and Barnsley for all the help you need to make your Will.

We have local offices across Sheffield on Attercliffe Road and in Gleadless and Hillsborough, plus an office in Barnsley.

Give us a call at your nearest branch or fill in our online enquiry form and we’ll give you a call back as soon as possible.

Friendly, Courteous and Understanding


Ms Thwaite

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-07-15T11:14:56+01:00

Ms Thwaite

Excellent customer service, would recommend without hesitation


Mr Gower

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-07-16T12:02:49+01:00

Mr Gower

Would be Happy to Recommend

Efficient and friendly service. Explanations were given in an easy to follow and understanding manner. We were very happy with the service, and would be happy to recommend and use again!

Mrs Riley

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T12:07:44+01:00

Mrs Riley

Efficient and friendly service. Explanations were given in an easy to follow and understanding manner. We were very happy with the service, and would be happy to recommend and use again!

Approachable, Friendly & Professional

I am very please with the service I received from you, just as I have in the past. You have approachable, friendly and professional staff from reception through to senior staff.

Mrs Lovatt

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-01-23T14:43:37+00:00

Mrs Lovatt

I am very please with the service I received from you.

A polite and caring service all the way through, from receptionist to solicitor


Mr & Mrs Williams

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-06-25T12:04:04+01:00

Mr & Mrs Williams

Impressive All-Round Service


Mr & Mrs Wragg

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-17T10:01:35+01:00

Mr & Mrs Wragg

Impressive All-Round Service

Excellent service throughout, friendly and professional


Miss Arblaster

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-07-18T09:10:38+01:00

Miss Arblaster

Friendly, Efficient & Clear


Mrs Dunne

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-29T09:41:16+01:00

Mrs Dunne

Understanding, Helpful & Efficient

Impressed with the very understanding, helpful and efficient staff

Ms Hood

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T10:37:14+01:00

Ms Hood

Impressed with the very understanding, helpful and efficient staff

Very friendly, but still professional


Ms Walker & Mr Birchall

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-24T12:01:59+01:00

Ms Walker & Mr Birchall

Incredibly Helpful and Understanding

Received very knowledgeable and excellent service throughout, incredibly helpful and understanding, thank you! Would recommend for sure!

Miss Pearson

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T11:36:23+01:00

Miss Pearson

Received very knowledgeable and excellent service throughout, incredibly helpful and understanding, thank you! Would recommend for sure!

Friendly & Approachable

I was nervous about the Will making process but I need not have been, as staff were so friendly and approachable, I was put completely at ease

Mrs Misiukanis

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-29T09:55:21+01:00

Mrs Misiukanis

I was nervous about the Will making process but I need not have been, as staff were so friendly and approachable, I was put completely at ease

Friendly and Pleasant Staff


Mr Osborne

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-12-04T09:55:27+00:00

Mr Osborne

Friendly and Professional

The whole process was dealt with in a friendly and professional manner. In my experience the service was first cl;ass and not needing any improvement.

Mr Slater

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T10:17:56+01:00

Mr Slater

The whole process was dealt with in a friendly and professional manner. In my experience the service was first cl;ass and not needing any improvement. 

So Good

The service was SO GOOD, I don't see how it could be bettered.

Mr Booler

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2018-11-12T14:23:52+00:00

Mr Booler

The service was SO GOOD.

Clear, Professional, Friendly Service

Everything was explained clearly, and service was friendly and professional.

Mr & Mrs Spencer

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T11:07:39+01:00

Mr & Mrs Spencer

Everything was explained clearly, and service was friendly and professional. 

Polite and respectful

Thank you for being polite to us. You were very respectful. There is nothing I could add to the excellent service.

Mr Rains

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-01-22T12:39:31+00:00

Mr Rains

There is nothing I could add to the excellent service.

Approachable and Knowledgeable

Very satisfied with the outcome of the work, Anthony was very approachable and knowledgeable, and provided very good down to earth advice

Mrs Brook

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-07-03T09:56:07+01:00

Mrs Brook

Very satisfied with the outcome of the work, Anthony was very approachable and knowledgeable, and provided very good down to earth advice

Thank you

Thank you for all your help and advice.

Mr Handley

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-11-29T09:44:13+00:00

Mr Handley

Thank you for all your help and advice.

Excellent and very informative

Yvonne Copley was excellent, very informative and pleasant to deal with. I don't think you can improve on excellence.

Mrs Gill

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-01-22T12:30:09+00:00

Mrs Gill

Excellent, very informative and pleasant to deal with.

Kind and Understanding


Mrs Senior

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-07-04T11:33:06+01:00

Mrs Senior

Friendly, Professional & Really Listened

The service received was both friendly and professional, and I was really listened to. Thank you for such a helpful and friendly service; I was pleasantly surprised with the low cost too.

Mrs Davies

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-29T09:59:28+01:00

Mrs Davies

The service received was both friendly and professional, and I was really listened to. Thank you for such a helpful and friendly service; I was pleasantly surprised with the low cost too.

Helpful and Friendly

Impressed with the helpful and friendly assistance from my file handler, they went out of their way to help us at a difficult time.

Ms Webster

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-09-30T11:24:12+01:00

Ms Webster

Impressed with the helpful and friendly assistance from my file handler, they went out of their way to help us at a difficult time.

Professional

Everything was dealt with in a very professional way

Mr & Mrs Lindley

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-08-14T10:10:08+01:00

Mr & Mrs Lindley

Everything was dealt with in a very professional way

Excellent Service Throughout


Mr Beetenson

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T10:28:49+01:00

Mr Beetenson

Excellent service throughout

Clear, Friendly, Efficient Advise

Advise received was clear and friendly! Everything was dealt with efficiently and within our best interests

Mrs Dyett & Mr Howard

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T11:50:50+01:00

Mrs Dyett & Mr Howard

Advise received was clear and friendly! Everything was dealt with efficiently and within our best interests 

I was Listened to Carefully

I was listened to carefully and my requests were adhered to professionally, thank you.

Mrs Booth

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T10:31:28+01:00

Mrs Booth

I was listened to carefully and my requests were adhered to professionally, thank you. 

Clear & Understandable Explanation

Good advice and service! Everything was explained clearly and understandably

Mr & Mrs Ellis

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-28T12:04:57+01:00

Mr & Mrs Ellis

Good advice and service! Everything was explained clearly and understandably

Friendly Staff

Impressed with the friendliness of the staff

Ms Mason

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-06-25T11:56:35+01:00

Ms Mason

Impressed with the friendliness of the staff

Pleasant and Professional Staff

Impressed with the pleasant attitude of staff and Maddalena's professionalism!

Mrs Ledger

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-06-03T11:06:26+01:00

Mrs Ledger

Impressed with the pleasant attitude of staff and Maddalena's professionalism!

Kind and helpful

I was apprehensive about discussing my Will, but I was soon put at ease by Maddalena. I reviewed my Will recently, and again she was so kind and helpful.

Mrs Woolley

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-01-22T12:42:46+00:00

Mrs Woolley

Maddalena was so kind and helpful.

First Class as Always

First class as always. Service is always friendly, polite, professional along with good advise. Very satisfied with everything!

Mr & Mrs Swift

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T12:12:14+01:00

Mr & Mrs Swift

First class as always. Service is always friendly, polite, professional along with good advise. Very satisfied with everything!

Excellent quality of service

Impressed with the excellent quality of service

Mr Stones

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T10:07:53+01:00

Mr Stones

Impressed with the excellent quality of service

Always Impressed

I am always impressed. Thank you to Maddalena and the staff at the Gleadless branch for their help.

Miss Cassy

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T10:23:21+01:00

Miss Cassy

I am always impressed. Thank you to Maddalena and the staff at the Gleadless branch for their help.

Excellent Company and Staff


Ms Vivian

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-10-18T10:54:29+01:00

Ms Vivian

Patience and Understanding

Yvonne's patience and understanding was very much appreciated.

Mr Morris

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2018-11-12T14:29:43+00:00

Mr Morris

Patience and understanding was very much appreciated.

Excellent Service

Thank you for helping me recently. Excellent service from opening the door right up to drafting and filing. I've been in many law firms all over and never had this level of customer service. All the best.

Mr Johnson

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2018-11-12T15:02:18+00:00

Mr Johnson

Excellent service from opening the door right up to drafting and filing.

Wonderful, Chatty and Helpful Staff


Mr & Mrs Jones

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-07-03T09:12:08+01:00

Mr & Mrs Jones

A Country Mile

I was particularly impressed with the greeting and welcome I received on my very first visit. I had called into three solicitors on Regent Street that day and yours was a 'country mile' better welcome than any of the others. Friendly, smiling, welcoming, down to earth and kind reception staff. This was the reason I chose your firm.

Ms Hooley

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2018-11-12T14:08:56+00:00

Ms Hooley

Friendly, smiling, welcoming, down to earth and kind reception staff.

Easy to understand

Everything was explained in detail and easy to understand

Mrs Coates

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-09-27T09:13:50+01:00

Mrs Coates

Everything was explained in detail and easy to understand

Compassionate

Many thanks for your compassion in dealing with our case

Mr Stubbs

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T12:16:26+01:00

Mr Stubbs

Many thanks for your compassion in dealing with our case

Highly Satisfied

The service that I received cannot be improved

Mr Allen

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-10-01T09:12:30+01:00

Mr Allen

The service that I received cannot be improved

Friendly, Competent and Totally Professional

Will writing service was friendly, very competent and totally professional

Mr & Mrs Greensides

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T11:32:08+01:00

Mr & Mrs Greensides

Will writing service was friendly, very competent and totally professional

Working with a smile

You made me feel comfortable and I was impressed you were working with a smile.

Mrs Little

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-01-22T12:31:58+00:00

Mrs Little

I was impressed you were working with a smile.

Everything went smoothly

Impressed with the smoothness of the whole process

Mr & Mrs Horsfield

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T10:13:11+01:00

Mr & Mrs Horsfield

Impressed with the smoothness of the whole process

Friendly and Clear

Impressed with the friendliness and clarity of information provided. Felt comfortable in asking questions if I didn't understand legal terms.

Ms Fairclough

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-09-02T10:27:32+01:00

Ms Fairclough

Impressed with the friendliness and clarity of information provided. Felt comfortable in asking questions if I didn't understand legal terms.

Very patient

Maddalena Proctor came to see me and helped me a great deal as I had no idea about Wills. She explained all the details and was very patient with me.

Mrs Greaves

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2018-11-12T12:57:58+00:00

Mrs Greaves

Maddalena Proctor explained all the details about Wills and was very patient with me.

Excellent Advice

Your work and advice was excellent, thank you very much.

Mrs Cheney

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-11-11T10:44:52+00:00

Mrs Cheney

Your work and advice was excellent, thank you very much.

Making my Will was made so easy

The making of my Will was made so easy for me - I should have done this long ago.

Mrs Fergus

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2018-11-12T14:28:45+00:00

Mrs Fergus

Making my Will was made so easy.

Very Happy

The explanation of legal terms was given clearly, and did not sound at all patronising. Very happy with the service.

Ms Pagan

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2020-03-16T11:57:42+00:00

Ms Pagan

The explanation of legal terms was given clearly, and did not sound at all patronising. Very happy with the service.

Made a Difficult Task Easy

You made a difficult task easy, thank you gold starts all round!

Ms Cooper

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-05-16T11:55:00+01:00

Ms Cooper

You made a difficult task easy, thank you gold starts all round!

Efficient and clear

Very efficient and clear.

Mr Ward

Wosskow Brown Solicitors
2019-01-22T12:35:59+00:00

Mr Ward

Very efficient and clear.
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Wosskow Brown Solicitors