Should I Make a Will?

“Should I make a will?” This is a question that has crossed many people’s minds as they get older, obtain property, build up savings or have children.

The simple answer is “YES” you should make a will, if you have any assets of value then you will want to be sure your estate is passed onto the people you want it to be when you die, normally this would be your spouse or partner or your children or other family.

If you pass away and don’t have a will you will die “intestate”, this will mean your estate will be distributed according to the law on intestacy, this may mean your intentions for the distribution of your assets are not met. The process of distributing the estate of someone who dies without a will can take many months longer than if you had a will, sometimes even years and in some cases the estate is passed to the Crown.

It is worth bearing in mind that while “intestate” your assets are not available, therefore a surviving spouse or partner would not be able to use funds to pay bills, expenses or other demands for money that fall due.

Having a properly drafted Last Will and Testament that is lodged with a Solicitor will ensure there is no confusion and that all your wishes are met in the event of your death, it will also mean your estate will be distributed as quickly as possible.

There is no right or wrong age to make a will, but the sooner you do it the better. A will may be very simple to change if you decide to make an amendment at any point in the future.

Having a will drafted by a specialist Solicitor is not expensive and will provide you with peace of mind that your wishes will be met when you die.

Pinto Potts Solicitors have a wills specialist, Karin Cox-Putker at Pinto Potts can help with writing a will or offering advice on matters involving probate, you can speak to Karin by calling on 01252 361200.