The complexity of individual and family circumstances varies enormously and will continually change through life. This needs to be reflected in your Will to ensure that your intentions for what happens to your estate are correctly recorded and implemented.
No matter how straightforward you feel your situation is, good legal advice could make the difference between your loved ones being provided for exactly as you would wish when you are gone, or them being left uncertain as to your wishes, perhaps even resulting in costly arguments.
Although it may seem savvy to save money by using a Will writing service or an off-the-shelf “DIY” Will, the risks of putting in place this kind of Will could have significant consequences for your family. Firstly, the resulting Will could be too simplistic to accurately reflect the arrangements you wanted to put in place. Secondly, there is a risk that the provider of the service may be unregulated leaving your family with no redress if your instructions are not implemented correctly. Thirdly, “DIY” Wills may be lacking key legal elements in terms of content and/or the way in which they are signed. This can result in added corrective paperwork costing more than the price of an average Will prepared by a solicitor.
Modern family structures can be complicated and it is important that any Will put in place takes account of, for example, previous and existing relationships, the rights of children, step and extended family, the value of your assets and ownership of your home. Ensuring your Will is updated when your circumstances change is also important. The consequences of any change in your circumstances and how best to deal with them in your Will would be explained to you by an experienced solicitor. Recently introduced changes to the rules relating to Wills may affect the content of your Will so professional advice is essential (see New Succession rules affect existing Wills).
We have an experienced team, who will ensure your wishes are correctly recorded in your Will so that they will be carried out on your death.
