Alan P. Squires Solicitor

Transcription

1 Alan P. Squires Solicitor

2 In this brochure you will find brief summaries of some of the legal services that I provide. If you do not find the information that you are looking for, please or telephone me. There is no charge for an initial discussion. So why should you use a Solicitor? It is true that, for some of the legal services offered on this website, there are cheaper alternatives. But some things - like a Will or a Lasting Power of Attorney - are probably the most important documents that you will ever sign. If there are any mistakes or omissions, it will be too late to correct them when the documents have to be used, and then what seemed like the cheapest option will become the most expensive. If you use a Solicitor, you will be able to discuss your personal situation in detail and ask any questions that you may have. A Solicitor is a trained professional, who can explain any legal and tax issues and suggest some things that you may not have considered. And why should you choose me? You are, of course, free to choose any Solicitor, and there are literally hundreds to choose from. What I offer is a genuinely personal service at a fixed cost. No impersonal consultations by telephone or , or all-purpose, "one size fits all" forms to download from the internet and fill in yourself. It is true that I have a website and I also use the latest technology in my work, but the legal advice that I give to you will be based on, and tailored to, your personal circumstances. Any document that I prepare for you - whether it's a Will or some other document - will be written for you personally, and will not be just a standard form. If you wish, and you live within Milton Keynes or the surrounding area, I can visit you at home. I will discuss your requirements with you in detail and I will answer any questions that you might have. And, not least, you will have the reassurance of knowing that the fee that you pay for my services is fixed at the outset. How much does it cost? Many solicitors, including me, offer a fixed fee. So you will know from the start exactly how much it will cost. My fees are clearly stated and there are no hidden extras Also, I will personally oversee signing and witnessing of documents to make sure that everything is done properly, from start to finish. For more information and details of my fixed fees, including package fees for Wills and LPAs made together, please telephone or me or visit my website. Alan P. Squires, Solicitor Page 2 of 6

3 Wills Who would you go to if you needed heart surgery? Would you download some information from the internet and have a go yourself? Or perhaps go to that place in town that offers cheap operations? What if you were in pain and needed a tooth taking out? Would you buy a DIY dentistry kit from the chemist? No, of course not. You d see a professional surgeon or a dentist. Someone who is qualified and knows what they re doing. Someone who is insured, just in case something does go wrong. So, wouldn t you go to a professional when you want to make a Will? True, a Will is not life-threatening or even painful, but it will probably be one of the most important documents you will ever sign. The really serious point is, though, that if a Will is not done properly, this will not be discovered until it has to be used. By then, of course, it ll be too late and there is nothing that you can do to put matters right. At the risk of stating the obvious, if your Will is wrong or possibly totally invalid, you won t be around to correct it. Your family will have to cope with sorting out the mess. The number of Wills contested in the Courts continues to increase (the number almost doubled between 2006 and 2011), partly due to the increase in Wills that were homemade, not properly drawn up or not witnessed correctly. Anyone can set up as a will writer Yes, it s true. Anyone can sell Wills, without any qualifications, experience, insurance or even any training. If you re looking for someone to prepare a Will for you, do check carefully to make sure that it s someone who is properly qualified and insured. A solicitor, for example, like a doctor or a dentist, has to pass rigorous examinations and undergo years of training before being allowed to practise, will be regulated by a professional body (the Solicitors Regulation Authority) and must be insured. Why make a Will? If you own a reasonable amount of property, money or other assets - referred to as your estate - and especially if you have young children, you should think seriously about making a Will. You re planning for the future of your family. If you don t make a Will, it s not as straightforward as you may think for your next-of-kin to deal with matters. Wouldn t you rather choose who will deal with your estate and inherit your property? There are statutory rules that apply if someone dies without making a Will, but they don t always work in the way that you would expect. Even a spouse or civil partner may not inherit everything. Looking after your children It s especially important to think about your children. You will certainly want to make sure that they are provided for financially, but if they re still young, who would you want to take care of them as they grow up? If you leave no instructions, or there is a family dispute, a Court may have to decide. These are not the sort of issues that you should leave to chance. Alan P. Squires, Solicitor Page 3 of 6

4 Lasting Powers of Attorney A Lasting Power of Attorney, or LPA, is a document by which you appoint another person to manage your finances or take decisions for you if you are ever incapable of doing so for yourself. Many people are beginning to realise that making an LPA can be just as important as making a Will. Consider the following statistics:* There are currently 800,000 people with dementia in the UK This figure is expected to increase to over one million people by % of people in care homes have a form of dementia or severe memory problems Two thirds of people with dementia live in the community (rather than in a care home) Sadly, many of us have had direct experience of a family member or friend suffering from dementia or other mental illness and realise not only how upsetting the condition can be, but also the difficulties that arise in dealing with normal dayto-day activities like running bank accounts, paying bills or dealing with pensions and other benefits, or even more complicated matters such as selling a property. There may also be a need to make decisions about medical treatment or other health issues. Have you ever considered who would deal with these matters if a member of your family, or even you yourself, were to lose mental capacity? Unfortunately, like with Wills, it s not something that we want to think about. But if it were to happen, with no LPA in place, the legal procedure to take over a person s financial and property affairs or medical and health issues is likely to involve a long and expensive process through the Court. People make Wills because - to put it bluntly - death is inevitable. The risk of dementia, thankfully, is not. But the hard truth is that 1 in 3 people over 65 will develop dementia, rising to 1 in 6 for those over 80.* Making an LPA is like taking out fire insurance: you hope that your house isn t going to burn down, but at least you re insured if it does. * Source: Alzheimers Society Alan P. Squires, Solicitor Page 4 of 6

5 Probate Probate (or, to give it its proper description, Estate Administration ) is the legal process by which a person's Will is taken through Probate and his or her "estate" (property, money, possessions, etc.) dealt with in accordance with the instructions in the Will. If there is no Will, the process can be more complicated, but basically the next-of-kin or other close relative will normally apply for legal authority to deal with the estate - what is known as "Letters of Administration". Having to cope with this legal formality and all of the other matters that need to be dealt with when someone dies can be difficult. It is not just because the legal process and the issues can be complex and technical. It can also sometimes be distressing to have to deal with the personal and financial affairs of someone who may have been a close family member or friend. If you need help or advice about dealing with a Will after someone has died, or what to do when there is no Will, or telephone to arrange a free, no obligation, initial consultation and request a fee quotation. As with most of my legal services, I will charge an agreed fixed fee for dealing with a probate application. I do not add on a percentage of the estate s value. The fee will be based on the size and complexity of the estate and I will confirm it in writing after a brief preliminary meeting to assess the amount of work required. Other Legal Services Bare Trust A tax effective method of giving money to your grandchildren outside of a Will. Change of Name A simple Deed to effect a legal change of name. General Power of Attorney Useful as a temporary arrangement to allow someone to manage your financial affairs or property, for example, while you are out of the country. Living Will (Advance Medical Decision) A legal document by which you can make an advance decision about medical treatment should you become terminally ill or incapacitated. Family Agreements Co-habitation and Pre-nuptial Agreements For further details of any of the services mentioned in this brochure or to make an appointment, please telephone or info@alanpsquires.co.uk Alan P. Squires, Solicitor Page 5 of 6

6 After graduation in 1978 Alan Squires spent some years in a medium-sized high street law firm in north Nottinghamshire dealing with a very broad general practice - from wills, conveyancing and probate to criminal, matrimonial and civil litigation. In 1982, he moved to an in house legal department, where he was to remain until 2009, eventually retiring as senior legal counsel with what was, by then, a major global company. In addition to advising on and dealing with a huge variety of UK issues, Alan also handled a number of matters in overseas jurisdictions such as the USA, Australia, France, Italy, Spain and the Channel Islands, including appearances at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Since 2007, he has served as a Director on the Trustee Board of one of the UK's largest pension schemes. After a long career as a corporate legal adviser, he returned to private practice, establishing a legal consultancy specialising in Wills, Probate, Powers of Attorney and Trusts. Qualifications 1978: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Honours, Nottingham Trent University 1988: Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales 1995: Master of Laws (LLM), University of Leicester 2005: Accredited Mediator, CEDR 2010: Postgraduate Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering (DipAML), ICA Alan P. Squires Solicitor 18 Spoonley Wood, Bancroft Park, Milton Keynes MK13 0RD Telephone: info@alanpsquires.co.uk website: Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (Number ) Alan P. Squires, Solicitor Page 6 of 6