Vital check every parent or homeowner must make today – or loved ones could miss out
HALF of adults over 30 don’t have a will but it’s vital you have one.
It helps protect your loved ones and lets you decide what happens to your money, property and possessions after you die.
Without it, your money could be shared with the wrong people or even go to the crown.
If your will isn’t up to date then it could be invalid or it may not include a new partner, child or grandchild.
This week LIZ EDWARDS and ADELE COOKE explain how to make a will and even get one for free.
WHY DO I NEED A WILL?
A will can ensure that your money and possessions are shared among your friends and family as you wish.
It includes what type of funeral you want, any charities you would like to donate to and instructions for items you want to be given to certain people.
It is important you make a will if you have savings, own your own home, are married or have children.
If you die with surviving relatives but no will, it can lead to your children or grandchildren receiving nothing.
Unmarried couples or those not in a civil partnership can suffer if there is no will in place too.
For example, if your partner dies and they don’t have one written up, you won’t be automatically entitled to anything.
Lawyer Melinda Giles has dealt with many cases where there is no will, it was out of date or not valid.
She said: “I’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact of a will not being in place.
“I recently worked with a family whose relative had passed away, leaving behind a significant estate.
“Before she died, she’d started the process of making a will, but she sadly lost capacity and died before it was signed. This meant the estate went back to the crown.”
You have to choose an executor when writing a will – this is the person that will carry out its wishes.
HOW TO MAKE A WILL
It’s important to use a qualified lawyer to write your will or it could be invalid.
Around one in five UK adults aged 30 or over have tried to draft their own will, according to the Association of Lifetime Lawyers.
Doing so could put your estate and loved ones at risk.
You can find a solicitor by searching for registered lawyers on The Law Society website.
What you pay depends on the complexity of your will, but prices range between £150 and £500.
For a will to be legally valid you must be 18 or over, make it writing, be of “sound mind” and sign it in the presence of two witnesses (who are both over 18). They must also sign the will.
GET A FREE WILL
You could get a free will this month as part of Free Wills Month.
In March, lawyers across the country give anyone aged 55 and over the chance to have their will written or updated for free.
A basic will would normally set you back at least £150.
There are a limited number of free sessions with a solicitor so you will need to be quick to book one.
You need to visit www.freewillsmonth.org.uk and then request an appointment.
Any appointments are face to face – but you may be offered a remote one depending on the solicitor.
You can use the session to get a will or update an existing one.
Some charities including Cancer Research UK and The Stroke Association offer free will writing services, in the hope that you leave them a donation.
If you’re a member of a trade union, such as the Fire Brigades’ Union or Unison you may be able to get a free will.
Some employers also offer a will writing service as part of their legal assistance to staff.
However, check how it works. If it’s just filling in a template then it would be better off to use a solicitor-based service.
EDITOR Jon, 55, lost his 86-year-old uncle Roger in January this year.
Roger, a retired print-maker who lived alone in east London, had not written a will or left instructions for his funeral.
He had no children and his nieces and nephew are his closest living relatives.
Jon, from London, said: “It’s a difficult time for the family. We’re grieving for Roger, and at the same time we’re trying to figure out what he wanted.
“It’s hard to know how to honour his wishes when you don’t know for sure what they were. We didn’t have a chance to discuss them.”
Although Roger did not own his own house he did have savings.
Once his funeral is paid for there will be several thousand pounds left.
But without instructions it is impossible to know how Roger would have wanted this money to be shared.
Jon said: “We trawled through his bank statements to find out which charities he supported, but beyond that, we’re not really sure.
“He loved animals and regularly donated to several animal charities, including WWF and the RSPCA, so we’ve guessed that he would have wanted to leave them some money.”