Making a will

• It is sensible, practical and can ensure your loved ones are provided for as you would wish
• It is a way of seeing that your hard earned money goes to the people of your choice and as little as possible to the "tax man"
• It is the only way to see that your property goes to whom you choose - your spouse, your children, your favourite charity ...
• It is the only way of being sure that your property does not go to distant relatives you never see or, if you have no family, to the Crown
• It does not cost much or take long

Act today and be sure for tomorrow.

What could happen if I don't make a will?

• The Law of Intestacy decides who gets what and not you
• Your loved ones would have no control over how your assets achieved after much hard work are divided up
• Your spouse will not always receive all your belongings - they may have to share with the children or other relatives
• Your family home may have to be sold by your spouse to pay relatives the money they are entitled to by law
• You would be leaving the welfare of your family to chance if you do not understand the intestacy rules

None of this need happen if you make an appropriate Will

Why can't I make a will myself?

• Unfortunately, through oversights, homemade wills are quite often not worth the paper they are written on! For example:
• There are special rules about signing and witnessing a will - if you get it wrong your wishes cannot take effect
• If you do not use the proper words to describe your wishes you may create more problems than you have solved
• A homemade will drawn badly is often worse than no will at all
• A significant number of "do it yourself" wills are declared invalid every year
• After all it's an act of certainty and if it's worth doing, it's worth doing correctly

Don't Take the risk - do it properly

What does it cost to make a will?

• Often very little time - about half an hour to an hour is usual
• Frequently very little effort - a solicitor will help you and give you confidential advice and guidance
• The cost is, compared to the time, worry and cost that can arise if you do not make one
• We would be happy to provide an estimate of the cost involved before we see you.
• Charities will sometimes offer to pay for a simple will in return for a bequest being left to them, if this is of interest, please ask if there are any currently being offered under this scheme.

Please do not hesitate to contact Mark Burn or Claire Waterhouse in complete confidence if you wish to discuss any matters relating to this area.