Making a Will

Many of us make the mistake of thinking that we do not need a Will as we view our financial affairs as being fairly straightforward. However, if you do not leave a Will, then it is possible that the State will say where your property and savings will go.

A professionally drawn Will can help in the following situations:

• Why do I need one?
• Appointing Guardians (Substitute Parents)
• Cohabitation (unmarried couples)
• Remarriage
• Family Members with Special Needs
• The Impact of Future Residential or Nursing Home Fees
• The Language of Wills
• Inheritance Tax

Generally speaking, a Will contains some or all of the following features:

1. Burial/Cremation wishes An individual may have specific wishes with regard to whether or not they are cremated or buried and where they would like this to take place.

2. The appointment of Executors Executors are those individuals appointed under a Will to take legal responsibility for the conduct of the affairs of someone who had died

3. The appointment of Guardians Guardians are in effect substitute parents for children under the age of eighteen years.

4. Specific legacies Specific gifts of money or property to named individuals, charities etc.

5. Gift of residue The residue of an estate is what is left over after payment of debts, funeral expenses, administration expenses, specific legacies etc.

Go to the “language of Wills” page.

It may sometimes seem tempting to use a Will writer.  To learn about the advantages of using a solicitor to write your Will please click here.

Download a printable version of our leaflet “A guide to writing your Will” here.

Contact us

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