How to make a Will
Making your Will is simple! Just follow these 3 steps.
1. Use the ‘Preparing to visit your solicitor’ Will-planner form (or in Excel here) to help you plan how you would like to divide your estate and other important decisions.
2. Find a solicitor. Ask friends for local recommendations or try searching on www.lawsociety.org.uk. A simple Will should cost around £120 + VAT. If your affairs are complex, it may cost more and you should consider taking specialist tax or financial advice too.
3. Make an appointment to see your solicitor and take the ‘Preparing to visit’ leaflet with you. Your solicitor will write your Will for you.
You can buy ‘Do it yourself’ Will packs but we recommend always using a proper solicitor. Beware of ‘Will-writers;’ they may be excellent but remember that anyone can set themselves up as a Will-writer without any qualifications whatsoever. A solicitor, in contrast, will be registered with the Law Society; you can check by searching for his/her name on www.lawsociety.org.uk. You could also use www.step.org, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, to find specialists.
Wills can be simple but the law is complicated and making a mistake could invalidate your Will, meaning that your wishes might not be carried out. An invalid Will can cause more problems and expense for your loved ones than no Will at all so it is worth making sure your Will is written (and amended) properly.
Some solicitors will write your Will for free (in return for a donation to charity) during Will Aid Week each November. See www.willaid.org.uk.
After you’ve made your Will, don’t forget to store it somewhere safely (let your executors know where) and to review it periodically – perhaps every 5 years or whenever significant changes in your circumstances or family take place. This will enable you to modify your will as your wishes change - for example, as children or grandchildren come into the family, or as your church or favourite charities change.
