about eleven

Why Eleven?

People say "Why Eleven?". I say "Why Apple, why Orange, why Blackberry?"

Ok it's not a fruit but it's a suitable 'left field' name to set you wondering!

Eleven Wills and Estate Planning Limited, to give you its full title ("XI" for short) was established in 2005. I have established XI as my own Wills consultancy offering my clients a thoroughly private and confidential service. This service can be in your own home or wherever is convenient to you.

Based in Holcombe near Bury I have no problem in travelling to see my clients. I also have a nationwide network of fully trained (Institute of Professional Will writers (IPW)) colleagues who are able to assist in times of need.

So, who am I? My name is Malcolm Ashton and I am a qualified Legal Executive (F.Inst.L.Ex.) of 30 years standing and an Affiliate member of the Institute of Professional Will writers (Aff.I.P.W.)p>

I deal with all aspects of estate planning including Inheritance tax planning, protective property trusts, single and mirror wills, specialised trust work and lasting powers of attorney.

I charge what I feel is a reasonable fixed fee which will not alter from the first visit. This way you will know exactly what to expect to pay, and don't forget that there is no charge for the first visit.

Woody Allen once said "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"

Sadly, no-one has come up with the secret of eternal life and it's a known fact that 65% of you haven't made a Will.

Making your Will need not be traumatic, but it does need to be handled with professionalism, empathy and confidentiality.

Why make a Will?

Most people I speak to recognise the need to have a Will but can barely bring themselves to actually sit down and discuss what is to happen when they die. And we will die at some point, it's not ‘if’ but ‘when’. A number of people say ‘If I die I want this, that and the other to happen’. The problem in their own minds is the word 'when', as this has a definite quality and finality about it.

To me, and it is easy for me, it is just another one of life's admin jobs that needs to be done in order to ensure that those who you value most in your life do not have to suffer the trauma of not only losing you, but have the unenviable task of sorting out an estate that may be complex and unfair.

If when a person dies and there is no Will it is known as an Intestacy, and, as such your estate devolves along a statutory line laid down in legislation 80 odd years old.

Making a Will ensures that your wishes are known and that you have appointed people who you trust to ensure that they are carried out as you would have wanted. You will have appointed Guardians to look after any children under the age of 18. If you hadn't the children could have ended up in care! Making your Will is therefore the most sensible thing you can do for your family. Your estate will go to those whom you nominate and not according to an old statute.

Most of us at some time or another have lost relatives and close friends and it is not an experience we welcome especially if the loss was sudden. It truly is an awful time for those who remain and the last thing you would want is for that time to be prolonged because you hadn't the forethought to make a Will.

Fee Structure

My fees are based on a package for your individual requirements. I like to think that I give my clients an holistic remedy for their testamentary needs. Providing 'the basics' is fine but that extra mile can make a lot of difference should your circumstances change in the future. Clear and concise estate planning will save you money in the long term.

Inheritance Tax Saving Wills

Changes in the law have meant that Inheritance Tax saving Wills do carry the same benefits as before as the law now says that, providing certain criteria are met, married couples or couples in a civil partnership can use BOTH tax allowances on second death.

We all have an individual allowance for Inheritance Tax (IHT) which currently stands at �325,000, and was going to increase to £350,000 in April in accordance with previous Budget promises. This is NOT going to happen. In his Pre Budget Speech last month, the Chancellor scrapped plans to increase the allowance indefinitely.