How do you make a will? - By: Clarapiere

Writing a will is incredibly important, as that is the only way to guarantee that your final wishes are carried out after your death. If you do not have a will then the State will decide who get what in accordance with intestacy laws, and so your friends, family or even favourite charities could miss out.

A will stops this from happening, as it will dictate who gets what possessions or assets. It is also crucial in determining who is responsible for caring for any children who are under aged. It is also extremely important to have a will if you are in a relationship but not married. This is due to the fact that the law does not automatically acknowledge co-habitation couples, not matter how long they have been together.

QualitySolicitors understands that discussing a will might not be the most pleasant of topics, but avoiding the subject could cause much more discomfort and pain for your loved one. So here are some top tips to make sure that your will does everything that you want it to.

1.Find a solicitor

It might seem really obvious, but finding a solicitor to carry out the drafting of a will is incredibly important. While you can make your own will, you do need to comply with certain legal formalities in order to create a valid will. A solicitor will also be able to see to it that any trusts that you wish to include in your will, comply with equity law as well as making sure that you do not pay more Inheritance Tax than necessary.

2.What are you including in the will?

You will need to draft what property or possessions you want to be included in will. This would include assets such as money, shares, property, personal possessions etc.

3.Who are you including in your will?

You will need to be very specific about what friend, family or charities are to benefit from your property, as there are bound to be numerous claims against your estate and any ambiguity will most certainly complicate matters.

4.What happens to the children?

If you have children it is wise to make provisions for them should you pass away. These provisions should detail how the lifestyle of your children is to be funded, who is take over guardianship of your children and any final wishes as to how you would like them to be raised (eg. What faith are they to be exposed to etc.)

5.Who will be your executor?

Your executor is the person who will carry out your final wishes as they are detailed in your will. If you do not appoint someone as your executor then the courts will appoint one on your behalf.

6.Keep it safe!

If a solicitor has drafted your will for you, then they will keep the original in a safe place and send you a copy. If you have drafted your own will, then you will need to make sure that is kept in a safe place, with copies kept separately and that a member of the family or the executor knows where it is.

7.Update your will regularly.

The general rule of thumb is to review your will every five years or whenever there is a major change of circumstances such as a divorce or marriage. This way should the unexpected happen, everything and everyone is still being taken care of.

8.Scotland and Wales.

The law and formalities of will making are different in Scotland and Wales in comparison to England, so make sure that any advice you do seek is relevant to your jurisdiction.

About the Author

Antonia Torr is a graduate from the University of Leicester, with a degree in Law with European Union Law. Having enjoyed writing from a young age, Antonia has received numerous awards that act as a testament to her quality of writing. Quality Wills Solicitors in your region please visit our website at http://www.qualitysolicitors.com

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Clarapiere/93482

Additional Articles From - Home | Reference & education | Legal