Why make a will?

If you die without a will (you are Intestate):

  • intestacy rules set out exactly who gets what share in your estate
  • your wife/husband or partner could lose the house and vital income
  • and if you are not married to your partner, and not in a registered partnership, your partner has no rights to your estate
  • you miss the opportunity to decide who you wish to benefit from your estate
  • you miss the opportunity to use your will as a key part of a plan for your present and future family’s benefit and protection
  • you cannot select the age at which your children would inherit from the children’s trust funds should you die before that time
  • in intestacy, the administration of your estate to obtain the Court's authority, and so the distribution to beneficiaries, will be significantly delayed

If you have a will, is it valid or up to date?

  • have you married since making your will?
  • have you separated or divorced since making your will?
  • have your circumstances changed, or have you reviewed your planning recently, either of which may mean that you need to write a new will?

You can write your own will

  • there is no reason why you should not yourself write your will, if you wish
  • unless you have the necessary expertise, it is easy to write a will that has meaning other than the one you intended and when the will comes to be used you have no chance to correct any error
  • we would suggest that the matter is too important to take that risk
  • if you use YourWill to help you write your will, you can have the benefit of comprehensive professional advice on the issues and alternatives that are specific to you

With a well planned will you can:

  • make sure the benefit from your estate goes only to those whom you wish to benefit
  • protect your money and property from attack, after you die, as a result of remarriage, divorce or bankruptcy of beneficiaries
  • as a couple you can avoid most of your assets being used for nursing home and care home fees
  • minimise the impact of Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax particularly for successive generations of your family
  • appoint executors in whom you have confidence to administer your will

YourWill are ideally placed to advise you about the issues and to help you achieve your priorities. Contact YourWill today.