Make Your Own Will

Make Your Own Will

Is it really necessary to use a solicitor to make a Will? In fact there is absolutely no legal requirement for a Will to be drawn up or even witnessed by a solicitor. Indeed, you can make your own Will should you wish. However, you should really only make your own Will if it is going to be relatively straightforward.

Click Make Your own Will to see how to make your own Will now!

This article will tell you when you should use legal help, the options available, and how you can avoid the common mistakes you can fall into if you make your own Will.

It is generally advisable to use a solicitor to make your Will, or to have a solicitor or a professional Will Writer check a Will that you have drawn up, if you want to be absolutely certain that it will have the effect that you want. This is because it is easy to make mistakes and, if there are errors in the will, this can cause problems after your death. However, many people successfully have found that you can make your own Will perfectly satisfactorily.

Make Your own Will

Resolving any misunderstandings and, worse, disputes may well result in delays and considerable legal costs which will reduce the amount of money left to your beneficiaries.

Here are some common mistakes to avoid if you make your own Will:

• not being aware of the legal requirements needed to make a will legally valid

• failing to take into account all the money and property you have to leave in your estate

Make Your Own Will

Make Your Own Will

• ignoring the possibility that a beneficiary may die before the person making the Will

• ignoring the effect of marriage, a registered civil partnership, divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership on a Will

• changing the Will and making it invalid because the alterations are not signed and witnessed correctly

• ignoring the rules that exist to enable dependents to claim from the estate if they believe they are not adequately provided for. These rules mean that the provisions in the Will could be revoked.

There are some circumstances when it is particularly advisable to use a solicitor. Here are some examples:

• when you share a property with someone who is not your husband, wife or civil partner

• when you wish to make provision for a dependant who is unable to care for themselves

• when there are several family members who may dispute or make a claim on the Will. An example would be a second wife or children from a previous marriage

• whenever there is a business involved.

• when your permanent home is not in the United Kingdom

• if you are not a British citizen

• if you are permanently resident here but there are overseas properties to be considered

Make Your Own Will

Make Your Own Will

One tip is that you might find that your trade union, if you happen to be a member of one, offers a free will writing service. A union will often use its own solicitors to undertake this work.

There are books available which provide guidance on how to make your own Will. These can even help you to determine whether or not you should make your own Will. They might also help you to decide if any of the pre-printed Will forms that are available from stationers and charities will meet your needs.

Remember that although you can make your own Will there are also Will writing services are available. You should check these forms out carefully and get a recommendation if at all possible. How long have they been trading? Are they sufficiently experienced to make your Will for you? You can also use some of the on line services to make your own Will, too. Be sure that your Will is properly written, whichever route you choose.

Would you like to make your own Will without using a solicitor? Click Making a Will to see how!

Make Your Own Will