As people grow ever-older in today’s society, planning for the future seems like something you can afford to wait to do. However, some activities – such as making a Will – are always better off being done earlier in life for a handful of reasons.
The first, and by far the most important, is that by making a Will you have the ability to choose what happens to your money and your assets – not the government.
Another is that – despite how foreseeable circumstances might seem – no one can predict the future. Particularly when it comes to your health, you can never be certain that a fatal disease, or even death itself, isn’t just around the corner. As morbid a thought as this might be, it’s one that you should certainly care about – at least for the sake of those who you will inevitably one day leave behind.
Finding a solicitor
How you go about making a Will isn’t a difficult subject. Getting the right solicitors in London, or wherever else it might be, could be though. There are thousands of solicitors who deal with Will writing, but you’ll want someone who you can trust to accurately convey your wishes after life onto paper. It’s such an important topic that you’ll no doubt want to get it right.
Professional Will writers are needed for certain, more complex arrangements too. For example, if you should so happen to share a property with someone who isn’t your husband, wife or civil partner. Things also can be tricky if you are a business owner, own property abroad or live outside of the UK, if you have several family members who may be entitled to your estate or want to leave it to people who aren’t able to care for themselves.
Making it legal
You wouldn’t want to waste your time with a cowboy firm if your family or beneficiaries ended up finding out your Will wasn’t written legitimately – it does happen.
For a will to be legally valid then, your professional will ensure that it is made: voluntarily, by persons aged 18 or over, in writing, by persons sound in mind, and in the presence of witnesses who will sign to testify the Will has been seen. These witnesses will also be of age (18 or over) and are unable to be recipients of the will in any way.
Importance of keeping your Will updated
Despite having the piece of mind that your future estate is secured, left in place for someone else to take forward, there will likely be times in your life when you might need to change/update your will. Once again, these are times when you should seek out trained professionals, because you might need further legal advise depending on your situation.
For example, becoming separated, divorced or getting married might change your Will. As will having children, or if your executor (person who is responsible for carrying out the Will) dies.
Bearing these situations in mind – and never knowing what life is going to throw at you next – you should now certainly realise how important making a Will is.
Author Bio: Mason Brown has a great deal of experience with solicitors in UK and hopes you will find his articles of use. To know more visit http://www.adamslaw.co.uk/
