Wills Drop In Event
03 Sep 2024
We are holding a free drop-in session on 7th October 2024, at Theatre Royal Plymouth, to assist people with their wills.
As Solicitors we have been helping people with wills and probate for over 200 years and we often see the consequences that DIY or out of date Wills can have on how estates are dealt with. Too often we find that Wills are invalid.
Why Would Your Will Be Invalid?
Failure to comply with the Legal Formalities
For a Will to be valid in England and Wales, it needs to be:
- In writing
- Signed by the person making the Will
- Their signature must be witnessed by two independent individuals who are present at the same time as the person making the Will
Too often, they are not complied with.
Use of Ambiguous or Incorrect Language
Legal terminology is often complicated to understand. However, the words used by Solicitors have been tried and tested over centuries and ensures that your wishes can be carried out without any ambiguity or risk for your loved ones.
Overlooking Complex Situations
Every family is different and there is no one size fits all template for Wills. To ensure that your Will can provide for your particular family, get your Will checked by a Solicitor.
Inadequate Provision for Executors and Trustees
Executors and Trustees carry out the wishes in your Will and deal with your affairs. It is important that you trust them and you have provisions in place if they are unable to act.
Failure to Update the Will
One Will is not necessarily valid for your lifetime. Major life events such as marriage, divorce, births or changes in finances can change your wishes and so you should review your Will regularly. Marriage revokes a previous Will unless worded in such a way to prevent this. Therefore, if your Will was made prior to your marriage, it is important to have it checked by a Solicitor.
DIY Wills risk opening up estates to legal challenges by family members who feel they were unfairly treated or left out. This can lead to lengthy and expensive legal battles which can drain the estate and delay distribution of the assets. These challenges often cause emotional turmoil and lead to long lasting divisions among your loved ones, as well as significant financial implications.
Please attend our drop-in session on 7th October 2024 at Theatre Royal Plymouth, call our offices on 01752 648338 or email contactus@gardandco.com to book in your free Will check.
You can find out more about our wills service here.
