Disinherited of £1.5 million - for the Benefit of the RSPCA

“She worked on her parents' farm for 40 years; she cared for her parents in their old age; she uprooted her family to be near her parents – but it was only after they died that Christine Gill discovered that her parents had written her out of their will and left their £1.5 million estate to an animal charity.”

The plight of Dr Gill, as reported by Hannah Fletcher in The Times recently is sure to touch both parents and their adult children alike.

It is a solid example of why it is so important to get advice before writing your Will, in order to ensure that your estate is distributed properly and fairly, and that there are no unforeseen consequences for your descendants.

There are many compelling reasons why you should make a Will in the first place, not the least of which is so that you control what happens to your estate, and who will benefit from it. Although Dr Gills’s parents may have genuinely wanted the RSPCA to inherit every penny, it is more usual for parents to safeguard the interests of their children or step-children. By leaving a Will, you can be certain that their future is secure, and can even stipulate at what age they can inherit, so that they make the best use of their funds.

By seeking professional advice before making your will, you can also avoid Inheritance Tax pitfalls which could significantly reduce the value of your estate.

For more information, or to make a free initial appointment, please contact Nadia Kassam or Rehana Ibrahim on 01858 445480.