Beneficiaries

Guides on beneficiaries. Free, practical advice for England and Wales.

6 guides

Excluding Someone From Your Will

You can leave someone out of your will, but in England and Wales some people can still make a claim. Here is how to reduce the risk of a challenge.

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Providing for Pets in Your Will

You cannot leave money directly to a pet, but you can name someone to care for them and leave that person a sum to cover the cost. Here is how to do it properly.

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How to Leave Money to Charity in Your Will

You can leave a fixed sum, an item, or a share of your estate to charity. Charitable gifts are free of inheritance tax, and a large enough gift cuts the rate on the rest of your estate too.

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Can I Disinherit My Children in the UK?

You can legally exclude children from your will in England and Wales. But adult children can challenge the estate under the Inheritance Act if they were financially dependent on you.

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What Happens If a Beneficiary Dies Before Me?

If a beneficiary dies before you, their gift normally fails and falls back into the residue of your estate. How to prevent this with contingent beneficiaries and per stirpes provisions.

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Can I Leave Money to a Child Under 18?

Yes, but children cannot receive an inheritance directly until they turn 18. Without a trust clause in your will, the money is held under a court-supervised arrangement until then.

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