Astonishingly, 55% of UK adults do not have a Will. This means that over half of the population have not safeguarded their future wishes.
And while you might think that when you die all your assets automatically pass to your immediate family, this isn’t always the case.
Changing family dynamics like cohabiting couples who have not got married, and the ever-increasing second families has meant that loved ones (such as an unmarried surviving partner) who you wish to be a beneficiary might lose out.
Without you realising it, someone you may not wish to be the beneficiary of your estate may do. Consequently, the change in family structure makes it even more important to have a Will in place which can address the potential complexity of your arrangements.
Preparing a Will ensures that children are provided for. This is especially important when it comes to step-children who would not receive anything unless you have not made your wishes clear in your Will.
Proper planing enables you to leave a legacy to charity, include friends and other relatives you may wish to include. You can also record details, such as personal possessions allocated to family or friends and funeral arrangements, that you would like carried out.
If you have never made a Will or have not looked at it in a long time it would be prudent to write a Will or make sure it still reflects your wishes and circumstances. If you do not prepare a Will for the future it could leave your family and friends nothing but acrimony, confusion and potentially costly legal battles.
If you already have a Will, you may not need to pay for a new one if only small changes are required and instead you can pay for an edit called a ‘Codicil’. Here at Pembroke Will Writers are more than happy to review your current Will and circumstances and help you prepare for the future.
Do you need to prepare a new Will?
If your Will needs changing considerably, you will need to start again. The more complex a Will is the more it will cost. You will also need to clearly state that any previous older Wills or Codicils are revoked and destroy any previous versions you possess. It is also important to let your executor know where your new Will is being stored, so they know where to find it when the time comes.
So, which big life events should you update your Will for?
- Getting married – any existing wills are revoked when you marry in England and Wales (not Scotland)
- Getting divorced – your married Will isn’t automatically revoked but your ex partner won’t benefit in England or Wales
- Having children or grandchildren (and step-children) – you may want to include them as beneficiaries
- Buying a house – the biggest purchase you’ll ever make in your lifetime, it’s good to mention – especially when downsizing
- Coming into some money – say who you want to leave it to
- Losing a loved one – you may need to update a beneficiary or executor
If you would like to speak to one of our Wills and Trusts experts ring us on 01634 353 658 or email us at rob@pembrokewillwriters.com.