The Finance Zone 

 Personal Financial Planning Advice and Guidance

Call on 0845 226 9106                                                              Or contact us from this page.

 

Why Make A Will - a short overview.

A couple of questions about writing a will answered.


It is certainly possible to create a  Will yourself but of course it’s not advisable. It’s far too easy to make mistakes which mean it wouldn’t be valid (if you don't have a will it's called intestacy) so it’s would be best to get help from a professional importantly there are number of financial implications which need to be fully understood before you make any final decisions.

For those reasons you should not really consider writing a will yourself but put it together with a third party that can talk about the issues.

In summary these are:-

  • Tax that may be due on your estate.
  • Flexibility to ensure your surviving partner is protected in full (this should take into account existing investments, inheritance tax and pensions along with the need for long term care).
  • Beneficiary protection especially if you have been married more than once.

If you really really want a DIY option, you’ll find Will-writing kits in most stationers, or ready-made templates online and good luck, remember it's your beneficiaries who will have to sort the mess out and your estate could incur additional legal costs.

There are other options, for example some charities offer Will-writing services in return for a gift or donation from your estate after death (even a small one), so if you have a favourite charity it may be worth looking into what they offer.

Otherwise you should seek help from a professional.

Getting ready to write a Will

When planning to create or recreated your Will, here are some things you might want to consider first:-

  •  your estate

  •  your beneficiaries

  •  Get your paperwork together
  • Appoint your Executors  
    • Choose people whom you know well and trust 
  • Review your Will when circumstances change

  • Keep your Will safe

 

Wills are not a particularly complicated item of financial planning but they do need to be taken seriously. If you want further guidance you can contact us using this page.