Grandparent Wills Solicitors

It’s common for married couples to leave behind their estate to their surviving partner and any children. There is often the assumption that their assets will eventually find their way to the grandchildren, but without careful planning, this is seldom the case. Grandparents who want to provide financial assistance to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren should include provisions in their will to ensure that their wishes are carried out for the next generation and beyond.

Grandparent Wills Solicitors

At Rowlinsons, we offer specialist legal advice for Grandparents who wish to ensure that their grandchildren are provided for later in life. Our Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning team has vast experience helping clients plan for the future and ensure that assets go to the right beneficiaries long after they’re gone.

The unparalleled expertise we demonstrate in this area has earned us the Excellence in Private Client Award from the National Law Society in 2018. Rowlinsons Solicitors was also Highly Commended in the Boutique Private Client Team of the Year category at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2023.

What is a Grandparent Will?

A Grandparent Will is similar to a bloodline will where your assets are placed into a trust fund for the benefit of your descendants. This means that only your children, grandchildren, and so on can access the assets. This protects them from any outside claims.

If you simply leave your estate to your partner and your children in your will, you have no control over what happens next. It is possible – and fairly likely – that your grandchildren may not receive a penny. To ensure your wishes are carried out a grandparent will can be a highly effective way of distributing assets to the right people and permanently keeping them out of the wrong hands.

Problems when leaving behind your estate

When making your will it’s natural to leave your estate to your partner and children while assuming that your grandchildren will be provided for financially by their parents and inherit the remainder of your estate in due course. This is often not the case and many grandchildren miss out due to their parent’s changes in circumstances such as divorce and subsequent re-marriage, or bankruptcy.

What’s more, any assets that you leave to your spouse may be eligible for assessment from the local authority.  This money could very quickly get consumed by care home fees with nothing left to pass on to any subsequent generation.

There is a high risk that if you leave everything to your partner and they remarry then their will will be automatically revoked. They could then make a new will which leaves everything to their new partner and direct assets away from your bloodline or chosen beneficiaries.

Protect your grandchildren’s inheritance

The best way to preserve your legacy is to include a trust in your will so that when the first partner dies, their assets go into the trust written into your will to be ringfenced for the benefit of family members. This means that the local authority, divorce courts and any other creditors can’t touch them.

Your surviving spouse will have limited access to assets, but you can set it up so they are provided for and can remain living in the family home. You can also give trustees the flexibility to release funds for specific purposes, such as helping a grandchild buy their first home or start a business.

The benefit of having a grandparent will over a standard will is that it is more flexible. It allows you to keep up with changing circumstances and events without changing your will. It is easier to adjust the terms of the trust fund as laid out in the letter of wishes than to completely redraft a new will.

Rowlinsons solicitors can advise on the best way to use wills and trusts to protect your family’s assets. We’ll be by your side to help you navigate any changes that might affect your will.

Be there for them even after you’re gone

Things can get complicated very quickly if you have not put the right steps in place for the future, especially if the surviving spouse remarries someone who already has children. A Grandparent Will means you can secure at least half of your jointly held assets for the benefit of your family after your death.

If you want to make lifetime provision for your surviving partner and guarantee that your children and grandchildren are the ultimate beneficiaries, get in touch with our Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning team today.

Contact our Grandparent Will Writing Solicitors

If you are a grandparent looking to plan ahead to ensure your grandchildren receive the inheritance they deserve, you need the support of leading legal experts. Ever-changing circumstances, legislation, and tax can all play a role, and your family could receive a fraction of what they should. With the support of our Grandparent Will Solicitors in Cheshire, you can draft a strong plan that ensures your wishes are carried through after you’re gone.

Rowlinsons’ team of Solicitors in Cheshire are based in Frodsham and Sutton Weaver. Our Will Writing Solicitors have helped countless individuals, businesses, and families to achieve strong plan that adapt to new circumstances while ensuring wealth and assets are protected, and are delivered to the right family members. Client care is our priority: we always work alongside our clients to ensure we build tailored plans that work for you.

Rowlinsons Solicitors is proud of the excellent level of service we provide, highlighted by prestigious awards such as a Commendation at the British WIlls and Probate Awards 2023.

We cover the Northwest region, including St Helens, Widnes, Warrington, Chester, and Northwich, as well as the whole of England and Wales.

Call us today for an initial no-obligation call, or click here for a callback. We also have meeting facilities in North Wales for family law clients.