You can write your own Will, without any help or legal guidance and as long as
it is properly signed and witnessed it should still be legally valid in the UK.
It’s just not recommended for a number of reasons:
The problems with going it alone
A Will is a legal document where errors can cause it to be invalid or ambiguity
means costly mistakes are made after your death.
The main problems are:
* You may not know or include all of important clauses which need to be used.
* By not using wording
There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to make your Will. Most
people’s affairs are relatively simple and straightforward and in most cases you
can make a Will without the help of a solicitor.
If your affairs are more complex
Of course, if things are more complicated then using a solicitor might be
something you should consider. Complicated arrangements could include:
* Being responsible for a person who will need ongoing care and financial
support after your death, for example
Making a will is always a good way of making the best available use of your
inheritance tax (IHT) allowance and minimising the amount of IHT payable when
you die.
Planning
What a will can’t do though is reduce the value of your estate available for
taxation, this will instead need some forward planning and this is something a
financial advisor may be able to help you with.
There are a number of options available to you, which may include disposing of
some of your wealth while you’re still aliv
No. In fact a solicitor doesn’t need to have any involvement at all in your Will
to make it legally valid.
Your witnesses
You can choose your own witnesses (you’ll need two of them) and they can be
pretty much anyone as long as they understand what they are doing and are able
to see your signature. In practice it a good idea to choose someone who is an
adult and somebody whom you expect can be traced after you die, in case they
have to give evidence about the signing of the Will.
You should a
Writing a Will with Affio can cost nothing.
With other providers the costs involved, much like anything, depends on a number
of factors – how you have your will written, who does it and how complex your
circumstances are.
Typically having your will written by a solicitor starts at about £150 but
people often use an unregulated will-writer and this is cheaper. A recent
survey found that most people pay between £50 and £150:
Amount paid for a willPercentage of survey£0-£5014%£51-£15047%£151-£30
If you have documented your wishes that are to be carried out after your death
in the form of a will, you will need to review it periodically.
Having your estate and finances distributed to people of your choosing can be
handled legally by way of a will. However if your circumstances change you may
want to alter things like beneficiaries or change assets that are bequeathed to
a specific person.
Life brings about many changes and there are a number of instances where you may
need to amend your Read More »
In the eventuality that the unthinkable happens, you will need a will to make
provision for your partner or spouse. This will not only ensure that they are
financially provided for, it will saves months of painful legal process and
potential disagreements with other relatives.
Making a will is not always on the forefront of everyone's mind especially when
daily living, work, and other things take over. However, it is a sound part of
your overall financial planning.
If you happen to die befor Read More »
Traditionally, the way to write a will and get your affairs in order has been to
engage the services of a solicitor. Having expert help to walk you through the
legal steps required gives a level of comfort and security when it comes to
making plans for your estate.
It also comes at a price.
Using a solicitor to document how you want your finances and assets managed in
the event of your passing does not come cheap. It can also take more than one
appointment which can rack up the cost.
An onl Read More »
You may have thought once or twice about preparing your will. It is one of those
tasks that is easily put off, but it is essential to protect your family, your
estate, and convey your wishes legally and effectively.
However, like many others you may have delayed writing your will for any number
of reasons.
It can be time consuming
It can be stressful or unpleasant
It can be expensive
To draft a will in the traditional manner you will need to book an appointment
with a solicitor, sort out Read More »
Now the hangover has passed and we are back into daily routine here are three
simple things you should sort out in the New Year to keep your AFFairs In Order
(thats the origin of the affio name).
1. Write your Will – it should take between half an hour and an hour to do on
affio. Print it, sign it in front of witnesses and put it somewhere safe.
Tell someone you trust where your Will is! Wills are much simpler than
people realise and it is better to have something and come back lat Read More »