Writing a Will? Don’t Do It Yourself!
None of us enjoy the prospect of writing our Last Will and Testament because none of us wish to dwell on the prospect of our own passing. However, it’s not a good idea to procrastinate when it comes to writing a Will, as one day it will be too late to ‘do it tomorrow’. Saying that, it’s also not a good idea to buy a Will writing pack, fill it in to the best of your ability before breathing a sigh of relief thinking you’ve finally got that task out of the way.
DIY Will Writing packs are now available in most Post Offices, stationary shops and even some supermarkets, and picking one up whilst doing your weekly shopping is tempting to many I’m sure. However purchasing a Will writing pack is not the same as trying the latest breakfast cereal or washing powder. Writing your Will is probably the most important document you will ever draft.
Although I’m sure these packs are put together with the best of intentions, some of the terminology can be unfamiliar and therefore misleading. Also, the included glossary of terms and the ‘how to complete your Will’ guide is often too brief or fails to explain certain options neither fully or with clarity. For example, we’ve all heard of inheritance tax, but the in’s and out’s of inheritance tax and how it could affect the outcome of your Will may not be explained fully in an ‘off the shelf’ Will writing pack.
Another consideration which does require detailed discussion is who to name as the Guardians of your children, should they be under the age of 16 when the will is eventually read. The initial choice of guardian may not be the ideal choice and at the end of the day, we all want the very best for our children, especially if we’re not around to look after them ourselves.
This brings me to my next point… When should one write a Will? Many people consider themselves to be too young to make a Will but the simple facts of the matter are, nobody is too young to write a Will. If you’re married or in a civil partnership, have a mortgage and/or children, then it’s time to write a Will. But before you rush out to the Post Office to purchase a Will, stop and read this article again!
There is no substitute for sitting down with an experienced Will writer. Although the cost is significantly more than the Will writing packs, paying the extra will ensure that your wishes are worded in such a way to avoid misinterpretation. Also, discussing your last Will and testament with an impartial yet experienced individual will often bring a variety of options and considerations you’d overlooked to the forefront.
Trust Inheritance are specialists in writing Wills and advising both individuals and couples in drafting their last Will and testament. To find out more about our services, please visit http://www.trustinheritance.com or call 08000 97 80 12