WRITING A WILL

 

If you’ve been thinking about writing a will, ‘Will Week’ is a fantastic opportunity to get advice from a Solicitor whilst helping to raise much-needed funds for a treasured local charity, Halton Haven.

Nyland and Beattie Solicitors will be providing a Will writing service to local Halton residents in exchange for a donation to Halton Haven Hospice.

If you’d like to make a Will or upgrade an existing one, we’ve put together a brief guide to writing a Will to help you get started.

 

Do I Need a Will?

 

Having a Will helps to ensure your money, property, and possessions are distributed to beneficiaries of your choice after your death. Beneficiaries are individuals or charities who will be left a gift in your Will.

Not having a Will could mean your loved ones miss out on the finances and items you wish to leave them. If you don’t have a Will it could mean that your money and belongings are not left to the people of your choice, and your beneficiaries may receive a lot less than you’d hoped for. If you do not have a Will, administering your Estate if often more complicated and more costly.

A Will generally makes it clear how you wish for your Estate to be distributed. Making a Will is especially useful if:

• You are unmarried with a long-term partner or have an unregistered civil partnership. Your partner’s rights to your estate will not be acknowledged by law, and there is a risk they will not receive the finances to which they’re entitled to.
• You have children under the age of 18. Making a Will can help to ensure exactly how much they receive and if you wish to appoint a Guardian, should anything to happen to you.
• You are looking to reduce the amount payable on inheritance tax fees.
• You have previously been divorced and remarried. You can decide how your money is shared out, whether your current spouse inherits everything or you wish to leave something behind for your former spouse.
• You are technically still married but separated from your wife/husband.

 

Writing a Will gives you the peace of mind that your loved ones and those closest to you are looked after in accordance with your wishes.  You should choose an executor you can trust to oversee your Will who will ensure your instructions are carried out. An executor could be a family member, a friend, or even a Solicitor.

 

Can I Write a Will without a Solicitor?

 

You can write a Will without a Solicitor, but a Solicitor can help to identify any gaps or errors in your Will. A solicitor can ensure your Will…

– Cannot be misinterpreted

– Is in full compliance with the legal requirements that make your Will valid

– doesn’t overlook or miss out any of your assets

– Includes appropriate clauses required for your needs

 

Using a solicitor can help to prevent any disputes that may arise after your death, avoiding astronomical legal costs and leaving more money in your estate to share out.  They can also ensure your Will has a contingency plan if a beneficiary passes away before you do.

If you need to make any changes or alterations these will need to signed and witnessed to keep your Will valid.

If your personal circumstances are a little more complicated, you’ll need to make sure your Will reflects this.

A solicitor can advise on what you need to do if:

• You get married, divorced, or remarried
• Your dependents feel they haven’t been provided for fully
• You need to put things in place for a dependent who can’t care for themselves
• Several individuals, for example, a former spouse, is likely to make a claim against the Will or Estate

How Much Does it Cost to Write a Will?

 

The average cost of writing a simple Will with a Solicitor is typically between £180.00 – £240.00. However, during April’s ‘Will Week’ you can access the Will writing services of a Solicitor in exchange for a donation to Halton Haven Hospice. Depending on how much you wish to donate you could save money on writing a Will or put the money you would have spent on your Will towards a charity instead.

What are the Requirements for a Will to be Valid?

 

Your Will needs to meet a few requirements so that it’s legally valid.

We’ve put together a Will writing checklist of the items you’ll need to include to make sure your Will is not invalid.

• I’ve detailed who my beneficiaries are clearly
• I’ve detailed who the executors of my Will are
• I’m over 18 years old
• I’ve completed the Will voluntarily
• I have the capacity of mind to write my Will
• My Will is in writing
• I have signed my Will with two witnesses present
• The two witnesses have signed my Will in my presence

Writing a Will is a sensible decision to make, even if it feels a little daunting. If you’d like to make a Will or update your Will during ‘Will Week’, you can do so with the support of a solicitor from Nyland and Beattie Solicitors.