A properly and professionally  drafted will is the best Christmas gift for your loved ones.

30 million UK adults who do not have a will : a staggering number!  Legally drafting  your  final wishes should be  top of the to-do list this Christmas.

Heppenstalls is a member of the Law Society’s Wills & Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS), which  provides a best practice quality mark for wills and estate administration advice that consumers can trust.

Those with the most to lose if they die without a will include co-habiting couples who are not married or in a civil partnership.

More than one million unmarried couples with dependent children are living in the UK. Recent changes to the intestacy rules strengthened the position of married spouses and civil partners, but left the position of cohabiting couples unchanged.

Intestacy is where the state decides who inherits if someone dies without a will.

Only partners who are married or in a civil partnership can inherit under the rules.

Managing Director Alexandra Jennings said: “For many people, the festive season is all about spending time with loved ones. So we urge people to reflect on that this Christmas and think how they would feel if you died and they received nothing.

“No one likes to think too carefully about their own demise, but ensuring your final wishes are made clear and legally recognised is the best gift for your family this Christmas.

“You can return those awful socks and loud jumper to the shop and get a refund, but there’s no going back if you die without a will.”

“Consumers need to be able to distinguish between those who are unregulated, uninsured and untrained, and solicitors who offer a quality service.

To discuss your Will and other legal concerns, please make an appointment with Heppenstalls Solicitors at our Lymington or New Milton offices. 01590 689500 or 01425 610078.