The importance of making a Will Q&A
July 11, 2019
We participated in Solicitors Chat on Twitter answering questions about the misconception that Wills are only for older people.
We’ve set out our answers out below:
- At what point in their life can someone make a will? And at what point should they make a will?
You can make a Will at any point in your life provided that you are over 18. You should review your Will when you have had a significant change to your circumstances. This could be; children, marriage, property purchase, new relationship, divorce or a separation. Changes to your circumstances can make your Will inadequate or invalid.
- What are your thoughts on the idea that wills are only for older people?
More than two thirds of the population believe people in the UK feel too uncomfortable about death and dying to plan properly. Many people are unaware of the serious consequences to their family if anything would happen to them. It is a myth that a Will is only for the older generation and as people are buying houses and planning families at a young age they should plan for their future accordingly as soon as possible. If you don’t make a Will then your estate, no matter how small, will be decided by the rules of intestacy and the final outcome may not be what you intended.
- What advice would you give to someone who thinks they don’t own enough to make a will?
If you don’t make a Will, then your estate will be dealt with in accordance with the rules of intestacy which may not be how you wish your estate to pass. A Will also gives those you appoint as Executors the legal right to manage your estate from the date of your death, rather than having to wait for administrators to be appointed.
- The prospect of making a will can seem overwhelming, how do you help clients with that?
Having a Will should be regarded as sensible planning to ensure that your assets pass in accordance with your wishes and therefore we always ensure that clients feel at ease in the meeting. We talk clients through the process of making a Will and important factors that they should consider when writing their Will.
- Once clients have made a will, how can they make sure it remains valid?
By reviewing their Will every 5 years and/or when your circumstances have changed.
For more information and advice on writing or amending your Will, contact Tayntons Solicitors on 01452 222445 to book an appointment with a member of our Private Client team. We can help ensure everything is correctly accounted for and that your loved ones will be taken care of.