Writing a will

Writing a will

Writing a will is one of the most important parts of planning for the end of your life. By making a will you can express your ‘final wishes’ and decide what you would like to leave your family and friends. 

Although you are not required by law to make a will if you die without a will your possessions and property will be distributed according to the law, which may not be as you would wish. 

There is considerable confusion among people about the technicalities and legalities involved in the will-writing process, and a concern that they are expensive and time-consuming to produce.   They do not need to be and the practical aspects of making a will can help people begin to consider how they want to be remembered and what is important at their end of life. For more information about the importance of writing a will, please read ‘We need to talk’, by solicitor Tony Collinson, on our news page.

The official government website for UK citizens, Direct Gov, contains useful information on how to write a will, what should be included, where to keep it and how to update it.

• Direct Gov: Making a will

If you want help with writing a will, as there are legal formalities to follow to ensure your will is valid and legally binding, it is important that you use a reputable solicitor. A solicitor can also advise you about how Inheritance Tax affects you. For more information on how to write a will and where to find a solicitor visit:

• The Law Society: www.lawsociety.org.uk/home.law
• Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners: www.step.org

Other useful sources of information and advice include:

• Citizen’s Advice Bureau: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
• Age UK: www.ageuk.org.uk

Tony Collinson, Senior Partner in Whiteside & Knowles solicitors in Lancashire and a member of the Dying Matters Coalition, said:

“There is considerable confusion among the public about the technicalities and legalities involved in the will-writing process.  But we are all living increasingly complicated lives, and society is seeing higher rates of divorce and re-marriage, which means that it is becoming more and more important for everyone to set out what they would like to happen to their assets in death. Not making a Will can have serious and unforeseen consequences for your family and loved ones.”

“We are working with Dying Matters on user friendly guidance that will be free and available soon to help make it even easier for people making their Wills."