Yorkshire law firm offers lockdown legal service
With potentially months of isolation left to run, Ison Harrison – which has 14 offices around Yorkshire, including Leeds city centre – has an established team of key worker will writers, who can ensure your wishes are in order.
Their 12 fully trained solicitors already safely hold 50,000 wills for Yorkshire clients and are fully experienced in producing water-tight documents, either in person or, as is now required, remotely.
Dominic Mackenzie has personally made over 20,000 wills for people over a career of more than 20 years. He said many people delay putting their affairs in order: “Irrespective of the current crisis most of us already knew that we should make a will, but think of reasons not to. We put it off. Will it cost too much? We are too busy working to take time off. We are not going to die for the time being so we will do it nearer the time.”
But, he says, for most people it is a straightforward and painless process that won’t break the bank.
Dominic added: “For most couples standard mirror wills should suffice. Beware of anyone selling you something you don’t fully understand and charging you a fortune for the privilege. If the will writer doesn’t make you understand what you are doing then he or she is not doing their job”.
From the comfort of your own home
In normal times people are often too busy to take time off work and go to see a solicitor. Therefore Ison Harrison has developed a service to make your will in the comfort of your own home, which is perfect for the current situation. If you are following government advice to self-isolate, they can take your instructions by phone or video call, and everything else can be done by post.
Comprehensive service
Whilst most people will only need relatively simple wills, as trained specialists the team will leave no stone unturned. This includes choosing your executors, who will inherit your estate, inheritance tax, potential claims against the estate and, where requested, and cost effective ways of protecting assets in the event of a divorce.
You can also use your will to appoint a guardian for your children.
They can also help your protect your assets, to help mitigate the costs of care home fees; solutions for asset protection can cost from as little as £500.
Lasting Power of Attorney
The firm recommends creating a Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) at the same time you do your wills.
LPAs appoint people of your choice to make decisions for you if you become physically or mentally incapable. Dominic said: “People do not realise the problems their loved ones may face should they have a stroke or develop dementia. It is generally easier to deal with things for someone who has passed away than it is to deal with an incapacitated parent for whom you have no authority.”
If you have able bodied, able minded adult children who you like and trust there is no question that you should appoint them to be your attorneys.
In the current crisis the firm recommends people do property and financial affairs LPAs ahead of doing health and welfare LPAs. Dominic adds: “If I became incapacitated I would want my loved ones to be able to quickly and easily make financial decisions. Without that authority we would be in a real mess.
“I would also be wary of solicitors charging the earth for LPAs, some fees I hear banded about for setting up LPAs are simply daylight robbery.”
Ison Harrison packages
Simple single will £150
Simple mirror wills £200
Asset protection wills and severance of tenancy £500 (for married couples and people who own their property jointly)
Will and property and finance LPA packages (including registration at the Office of the Public Guardian)
Single will and LPA £375
Mirror wills and LPAs £550
Asset protection wills, severance of tenancy and LPAs £750
All the above prices are subject to Vat and in the and in the case of LPAs, court fees of £82 per LPA.
Find out more at https://www.isonharrison.co.uk/ or call 0113 346 4037.