Saga Legal, in partnership with Co-op Legal Services

What's included in your free review?

During your free review of your will and estate planning, your specialist will:

• Meet you by video, telephone or home visit (subject to geographical restrictions)
• Take the time to understand your circumstances and what's important to you
• Check whether your existing estate planning measures still meet your needs
• Find out how the right will can reduce inheritance tax for the next generation
• Explore how a trust will could better protect your home and savings from things like care home fees
• Explain ways to retain control of your healthcare and finances by creating lasting powers of attorney in case of illness or accident
• Talk in plain language, avoid legal jargon and help you make informed decisions

Get the support and guidance you need, by booking your free review today.

Find the answers to our most frequently asked questions

Could my home be sold to cover care fees?

If you or your partner need to go into residential care in the future, your home may need to be sold to cover the cost. Your local authority will carry out a means test to determine whether you’re eligible for financial support. If you don’t qualify, you’ll need to use your own assets, potentially including your home, to pay for your care fees.

With the right planning, you and your partner can each ringfence part of your home's value so that it's protected against being used for the other person's care fees. During your free legal review, we will explain who's liable for care costs and how to protect your home through the use of trusts.

Can my family make decisions for me if I can’t make them myself?

If you lose the ability to make your own decisions due to illness or accident, no one automatically has legal authority to manage your affairs. This includes managing your finances, paying your bills or making decisions about your medical treatment or care. Although many people assume their spouse, partner or children can step in if needed, unless you have legally appointed them as a lasting power of attorney, they do not have the right to act on your behalf.

If you lose capacity and you don't have a lasting power of attorney, your loved ones must apply to the Court of Protection for the court to decide who can manage your affairs. This process can be long, costly and complex

For peace of mind that someone of your choosing can immediately begin to look after your affairs as soon as you need them to, consider making a lasting power of attorney. In your free legal review, we'll explain how a lasting power of attorney works and look at the options available to you.

Does getting married void your will?

In England and Wales, when you get married any legally valid will that you previously put in place automatically becomes void, unless it includes specific reference to your intended marriage.

As a result, if you don't either make a will in contemplation of your marriage, or make a new will after you get married, you could die without a will. This is known as dying 'intestate'. When this happens, the law will decide who inherits your estate meaning you have no control over how your home, money, and personal belongings, are distributed. During your free legal review, we'll explain your will writing options so that you can make informed decisions.

Could I accidentally disinherit my children if I get remarried?

If you have children from a previous relationship and then get married or enter into a civil partnership with someone new, your children could be at risk from accidental disinheritance. This is because marriage or civil partnership automatically voids any existing will and your new spouse or civil partner legally becomes your main beneficiary. If your estate passes to them, they can make a will leaving it to anyone they choose. It could even be redistributed to their next of kin under inheritance laws, which don't recognise step children. When this happens it's called sideways disinheritance.

During your free legal review, we’ll help you understand the risks and how you can protect your children’s inheritance with the right planning.

Saga is a registered trading name of Saga Personal Finance Limited, which is registered in England and Wales (company number 3023493). Registered office 3 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG. Saga is not authorised or regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). All legal services are provided by Co-op Legal Services. Co-op Legal Services is a trading name of Co-operative Legal Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the SRA, under registration number 567391.