Frequently Asked Questions - Will Writing

A Will is a legal document in which a person expresses how they want their assets to be distributed, after they pass away.

Wills make your wishes clear for what you want to happen to your estate, and who you want to inherit your assets.

Anyone over the age of 18 and of sound mind.

It is advised to choose independent people as witnesses, as they may also be beneficiaries and this could cause issues and delay in the administration of your estate.

You can choose where to store your Will – even at home. However, we would recommend that you store your Will securely. We offer a free secure storage service, to give you peace of mind.

If you die without a Will, your estate will be subject to the rules of intestacy. This may mean that your intended beneficiaries will not inherit anything.

It is very common for a person to provide a gift to individual family members or friends in their Will. This might include individual possessions such as jewellery or money. On top of this, you can provide financial gifts to charities, tax free.

You are able to make changes to your Will over the course of time, but if you would like to make many significant changes, it might be better to write a new Will. You can revoke the old one by destroying it. Or, you can make small changes like changing the Executors, by using a document called a codicil.

A codicil is a document that allows you to make small changes to an existing Will. It needs to be signed and witnessed in the same way as a Will.

You should update your Will at least every five years. You may also want to update your Will on the occurrence of life events including divorce, remarriage, having a child and the death of an Executor or beneficiary.

A person given responsibility to distribute the deceased’s assets according to their Will.

Anyone aged 18 or above can be an Executor of your Will. Many people choose their spouse, civil partner or children to be an Executor.

Up to four executors can act jointly at a time.

Yes, often the main beneficiary is also one of the Executors.

Wills let you distribute bank accounts, heirlooms, property, money and more.

You can name a guardian for your children in your Will, if they are under 18.

Even if you are married or in a civil partnership, this is not always the case. Making a Will ensures that your estate will be distributed as you wish.