Wills

A will is a legal document to ensure the people you want to inherit get what you want them to have. Making a will can take away the worry about what will happen when you die.

A will sets out how you would like your estate (money, property and belongings) to be distributed after you die and if you have children under the age of 18, who will look after them.

If you die without a will then the law will make the decisions and this may not be what you would have wanted.

Making a will
Contacting a solicitor
Resources to help you

Making a will

There are lots of things to think about when you are making a will. Each person’s circumstances are different so it is important that you make a will that covers your circumstances.

It is particularly important that you write a will if:

You and your partner are are unmarried or you are in a same sex relationship and have not registered a civil partnership. Without a will your partner cannot inherit from you and if your family chooses to cut your partner off when you die, they are legally entitled to do so. This can all mean that your partner has no money and nowhere to live.
You have children.
You want to make sure that you don’t pay more inheritance tax than necessary.
There are lots of resources to help you through the process of making a will (see Resources to help you).

Changing circumstances

You may of course already have a will but circumstances can change so it is important to revisit your will from time to time to make sure it still says what you want it to.

Contacting a solicitor

Making a will is far easier than many people imagine. However, as a will is a legally binding document, it is highly recommended that you write it with the help of a solicitor. This is because any mistakes you make could mean that your wishes might not be carried out as you wanted. It is certainly worth ringing around a few solicitors to compare prices, as they vary depending on how complex your will needs to be. In some circumstances (eg if you have a disability) you may be eligible for financial help.

You can contact the Community Legal Advice helpline on 0845 345 4345 and they will help you find a solicitor in your area.

The Law Society can also help you find a solicitor in your area.

Resources to help you

The following resources will help you through the process of making a will and help you think about the relevant questions to ask:

Age UK-Fact sheet 7: Making a will
DirectGov advice
Plan the future: a guide to making a will. This covers topics like why a will is important, choosing an executor, and how to leave a legacy donation to Terrence Higgins Trust.

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