Making a will for those with no family Q&A
May 16, 2019
We participated in Solicitors Chat on Twitter answering questions about how you can write a Will if you have no family relationships.
Courtney Rooney and Janine Guthrie from our Private Client department were on hand to provide some much needed guidance.
We’ve set out our answers out below:
-
For someone who has no living relatives or is estranged from their family, what are the main things to consider when writing a will?
To consider who you would like your Executors to be. The next thing would be where you would like your assets to go. Although not legally binding, you may also wish to put funeral wishes into your Will.
-
Who can be appointed as executor of the will if there are no family members to appoint?
If you have no family or close friends that could administer your estate then you could consider having professional Executors i.e. the partners of a Solicitors firm.
-
How can a solicitor help someone who has no family plan their future care?
A Solicitor can help by putting in place Lasting Powers of Attorney. If you have no family then you can have professional Attorneys or friends who will act in your best interests.
-
What is an Inheritance Act Clause and how does it work?
An Inheritance Act clause is a clause that is inserted to show that you intentionally meant to exclude a person or persons from your Will. It is not legally binding but more shows your intention to exclude that person or persons.
-
What advice would you give to someone who is estranged from or has no family when it comes to writing a will?
They would need to carefully consider who they wish their assets to pass to and whether there are likely to be any challenges to that Will. They should write a separate side letter setting out factual reason why they are excluding that person(s) from their Will and in some cases, obtain a medical report. However, they should also always ensure they take proper legal advice.
If you would like more information or advice about making a Will or updating an existing Will, contact our Private Client team on 01452 222445 to make an initial appointment. We can help ensure everything is correctly accounted and help put your mind at ease.