Why we’re supporting Dying Matters Awareness Week 2024

It’s no surprise that death and dying are subjects few of us want to talk about – which is why we are always so wholeheartedly behind Dying Matters Awareness Week, a yearly initiative to try to make those difficult conversations a little easier.

Run by the charity, Hospice UK, this year’s focus is on the specific language used around death in a bid to break down the barriers and taboos which so often get in the way.

Our specialist Wills and Probate team know how important these discussions can be, not just in improving the quality of end-of-life care through better communication with health professionals but in taking decisions that will give you peace of mind about providing for your family when you’re gone.

How can Wards help open up conversations about death?

We are highly experienced in providing a wealth of sensitive, specialist guidance to people who know they may be approaching the end of their life, as well as to their families and carers.

This includes:

• Making or updating your Will – this gives clarity and is crucial when it comes to carrying out your wishes when you die. A properly drafted Will ensures you won’t leave your loved ones worrying about what you really want at a time when they are grieving your loss.
• Estate and inheritance planning – a properly drawn up Will enables you to take wealth preservation steps to structure your affairs not only to minimise your liability for inheritance tax but to maximise tax relief too.
• Lasting Powers of Attorney – taking steps to protect your finances, personal and health affairs if you lose mental capacity is arguably as important as making a Will, enabling you to appoint trusted people to look after your affairs if this happens.
• Advanced Decision (Living Will) – in this document you can set out the kind of medical treatment you do and don’t want in the event you aren’t able to convey those wishes yourself.

We can also talk to you about care funding and the protection of your assets as well as deputyship matters.

How do we make it easy for you to talk to us?

We go out of our way to make meetings as easy as possible for you and can visit you at home or in hospital if necessary.

Appointments are available outside the usual office hours when appropriate; for example, if you want to make an emergency Will.

We’ll always make sure we find out in advance from you of any potential capacity or physical limitations such as mobility, hearing or visual impairments so that we can ensure you are able to let us know everything you think is important, at your own pace, throughout the meeting.

If you want to come to one of our offices, we’ll let you know what disabled parking facilities and access is available and ensure that toilets are easy to get to as well.

Get in touch

Wards Solicitors’ is once again recommended as a South West Leading firm in the Legal 500 list for 2024, praised for its exceptional professional service standards and high levels of technical expertise.

Our Wills and Mental Capacity Team is one of the largest in the region and vastly experienced.

Most of our team members are fully accredited with the Association of Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Membership of these organisations ensures the highest standards of professionalism.

We offer a free initial appointment for you to discuss what you need and always provide clear cost details up front before starting any work.