Fergusson Law

Will Writing Services At Fergusson Law in Edinburgh, we believe every adult should write a Will .  This very important document means that should the worst happen, your final wishes will be granted as you expected.  Having a Will means that you can ensure your loved ones are protected after your death and they avoid unnecessary expense and stress at a very difficult time.    Should you die intestate (without a Will), your Estate, no matter how small or large, will be divided and passed on according to the laws of intestacy.  This may result in the people you wish to inherit not getting anything. For instance, a partner you live with may get less than an ex-spouse.    Coronavirus (COVID-19) Rules Currently, we cannot open our office as usual, due to the lockdown rules.  However, this does not mean we are closed for business.  It just means that we are working from home and can be contacted by email or telephone.  We can...

What is a Trust? Trusts are established to provide legal protection for the trustor’s assets, to make sure those assets are distributed according to the wishes of the trustor, and to save time, reduce paperwork and, in some cases, avoid or reduce inheritance taxes. Why should you set up a Trust? Setting up a trust can help to protect your assets and save tax at the same time. For example, you might want to give your grandchild a lump sum, but not want her to spend it on the wrong things. By putting the money in trust, you can be sure that your grandchild will benefit from the money. Your appointed Trustees will manage the funds so that they are spent in line with your wishes. You could also benefit from a tax saving. How do you set up a Trust? A private client solicitor can set up and administer a trust. They will provide expert legal advice on what needs to be done to protect your assets and reduce inheritance tax. If you die within 7 years of establishing a tru...

DYING INTESTATE Do you have a Will? If you die without making a will , your estate may not be distributed in the way you would have intended, and it might cause real problems for your family. The issue is of particular concern to buy-to-let investors, who own flats and houses in addition to their family home. If you do not have a Will in Scotland , your estate is divided according to the rules of intestacy. FIRSTLY, IF THERE IS A SURVIVING SPOUSE THEY GET PRIOR RIGHTS. The family home (if they live there) up to a value of £473,000 Contents (if they live there) up to a value of £29,000 Cash - £50,000 if there are children, £89,000 if there are none. IF THERE ARE MOVEABLE ASSETS LEFT AFTER PRIOR RIGHTS, LEGAL RIGHTS APPLY These only apply to moveable assets – that is everything except houses, flats and land. Surviving spouse and children: spouse gets 1/3 rd  of moveable assets, children between them share 1/3 rd  of moveable assets. Final 1/3 of moveable a...

WHAT IS A BLOODLINE WILL? Many of you will have heard about or seen TV advertisements for, so-called Bloodline Wills. Solicitors write Bloodline Wills for their clients with the aim of keeping their estate in the family. The theme is that you want your estate to go to your immediate family whom you know, with no risk of it being diverted to your daughter’s ex-boyfriends, people whom your children owe money to, or future step-parents, and so on. Your grandchildren could be specifically named in your Will but end up with nothing at all. It is even possible that your wishes could be bypassed if you own a buy-to-let property as well as a family home. There is nothing new about making your directions clear in your Will except that modern cohabiting relationships can create unexpected legal consequences. You might think your existing Will provides protection for your family assets but it is likely that your grandchildren will only inherit if their mother or father dies before them...

A Will Makes Your Family Legally Safe None of us likes to think about death, especially our own death or that of someone close to you, whether family or friend. However, having a Will in place if the worst does happen can help your immediate family immensely. Should you die intestate, that is without a Will, your estate will be distributed following the rules of your country's laws. For the majority of cases, your Estate will be passed onto your next of kin. Your Estate is made up of any assets owned by you minus any liabilities eg loans or debts to be paid. A person's Estate can amount to a few belongings such as jewellery and a little savings, or can be vast and include many assets such as property , land, shares, savings and cars. Dying Intestate in Scotland Without writing a Will can you be sure the correct people will receive your Estate? For instance, if you are living with a partner but are not married, they may not be entitled to your home without it being ...

A private client solicitor acts on behalf of an individual on a wide range of legal matters such as wills, trusts and estate planning. Private Client Solicitor Services In Edinburgh, Fergusson Law offers a wide range of private client legal services for a fixed fee . These include: Writing Wills Trust Administration Estate Planning Estate Administration Power of Attorney Administration Inheritance Tax Advice Living Wills This short video highlights some of their services and how these services can help you and your family. A good private client solicitor can help you prepare legally for anything that life may throw at you. For instance, having a will, no matter how small your estate will help ensure the people you want to protect will be legally protected in the event of your death. A Will can ensure that if something happens to you, your house will be transferred to your partner and step-children rather than your next of kin who may be a sibling or parent.