Making a will
Thinking about the future
A will is a legal document. It lets you decide what happens to your money, property and possessions after your death.
People can think they don’t need a will. For example ‘I don’t have much to leave’ or ‘I’m married so my partner will get everything’.
However there is more to think about. For example, if you have children a will can show who you’d like to look after them. And if you have in mind particular people you'd like to leave specific belongings to, your will can set this out.
Your executor and your estate
A will should also name your executor or executors. This is the person or people who’ll be responsible for your estate. An estate is everything a person owns: savings, investments, property and also any debt.
Depending on your instructions, and what’s in your estate, being an executor can be a lot of work. You need to choose executors who are comfortable doing the job. If you don’t have a friend or family member who is suitable, you can ask a professional such as a solicitor or an accountant. You should seek independent legal advice first.
Getting help to write your own will
There’s helpful information on this government website. It tells you how which tells you how to write your own will, make sure it’s legal, and keep things up to date.
You may want to consider independent legal advice before writing your will. This is so you sure that the instructions you leave behind are clear, easy to follow through and legally binding. If you're interested in instructing a solicitor, you could ask friends or visit the Law Society website to find out more about how you can find a solicitor who offers will writing services.
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