Has the need of writing a Will ever occurred to you or do you think of it as something that can wait until you’re much older? Does the creation of a Will seem intimidating to you, given that it can be so complex and may evoke thoughts of death? It’s hard to blame someone for being reluctant to write their Will for reasons such as these, but it’s a document that is simply too important to ignore or neglect, including the need for a specialist solicitor.
The main reason in favor of writing a Will is that you determine how your assets will be distributed after you die. Otherwise, it will be left to the discretion of the government to redistribute them as it sees fit. Your Will also allows you to make specific determinations such as who will be the executor, whether a former partner will receive anything, at what age your children will receive their inheritance or any preferences such as a specified guardian for your children. Essentially, by writing a Will, you are taking control of major decisions concerning your family after you die so that they will have the comfort of knowing exactly what will come their way.
If you are a young adult and there is the strong possibility of major life circumstances changing, e.g. moving to a new address or starting a family, you can write a Will now and make changes to it afterwards for significant life events. If you need to amend a Will, you complete what is known as a codicil, which is a document that authorizes changes to an existing Will. Where there are significant alterations to an existing Will, it is usually best to create a new Will from scratch which will void any previous Wills and codicils.
Probably the most important advice about creating a Will, though, is to do so with the involvement of a qualified specialist solicitor If you take a chance on writing your own Will, you will most likely overlook something that, in turn, will invalidate the document. A specialist solicitor would ensure that the document is watertight and can give you sound advice based on their in-depth knowledge of the subject. Even if you’re the type of person who usually prefers to take the DIY option, you would be foolish to take on the responsibility of Will writing entirely by yourself.
This infographic from I Will Solicitors is an excellent beginners’ guide to writing a Will. The process can seem intimidating and scary at first, but any good Will-writing solicitor can explain it to you in easily understandable terms and construct it in a way that will allow you to get the most out of it.
Also check out their video on writing a will
