Making Your Will

Simply put, your Will is your set of wishes. It is a legal document in which you state what you would like to happen to your estate.

You name an Executor in your Will who carries out the terms of your Will.

A Will is your chance to clearly state your intentions on such matters as:

1) Who you wish to act as the executor of your Will

2) Who you wish to be the guardian of your children together with how you wish to provide for your children

3) Your funeral wishes

4) What organ donations you might wish to make

5) Instructions that will reduce Inheritance Tax

6) Gifts for your pet or charity

7) Gifts of your personal items, investments and/or property. The gift might have commercial value like a house or only sentimental worth like a watch or a wedding ring.

Making your will also means that you leave everything neat and tidy for your family. This can save them hassle, time and maybe money, too.

In England and Wales the age is 18. But if you live in Scotland you can make a Will from the age of 12. In Northern Ireland the age is also 18 (younger if married before 18).

Making Your Will is particularly important when getting married, having children, and also if getting divorced or remarried. Purchasing a house is an important time, too.

Your Will becomes invalid when you become married or enter into a civil partnership, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, unless the Will stated that it was written in anticipation of getting married. Your former spouse, if included in your Will, would be treated as having died previously if you get divorced.

So, if your previous Will said that everything was to go to your spouse but if he/she died before you then everything was to go to your children, your former spouse will be treated as having predeceased you, and everything will go to your children.

It's a good idea to review Making Your Will every five years but you do not need to always draw up a new Will. Instead, you can add clauses to your existing Will through a codicil. Drawing up a new Will is more advisable, though, and may cost the same.

TIP - if you use
www.willdrafters.com and go for their WillPlus service then any future changes to your Will are completely free of charge. They actually write you a brand new Will each time. Go there now for details
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Most people think about traipsing off to see the solicitor, but you do not even need to leave the house!

Yes, you can buy a pack that includes a will template to fill in and do it yourself but I did that and it really was not very clear. I only have a relatively simple situation yet I found myself wondering how to fill in the form.

I came to the conclusion that it is much better to get someone who writes Wills professionally to look at my Will. It is just more reassuring!

I did not want to pay the fees that a solicitor charges and I wanted a better standard of service, too. After some research I found a firm that will do the following:

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• Offer friendly advice


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• Prepares your Will quickly and at the right price


• They have prepared over 100 000 Wills so you can be confident that they now what they are doing!

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