What to think about when making a will

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5 min read

Are you thinking of making a will?  

Besides deciding who gets what, here are some questions to consider to make sure you’re ready to get started. 

  1. Who do you want as the executor?

The executor is the person you officially choose to carry out your wishes.

  1. Make sure your will is legal
  • At the start of the will, it should state that it revokes all others. If you have an earlier will, it’s better to destroy it.
  • It must be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two people.
  • You must have the mental capacity to make the will and understand the effect it will have.
  • You must have made the will voluntarily and without pressure from anyone else.
  1. Consider areas of potential complication

Things can get complicated when there’s no official paperwork. For example, if you share a property with someone who isn’t your husband, wife or civil partner it’s important to consider the right they hold to the property. 

  1. Decide where to store your will

Once you’ve created a will, it’s usually stored with a solicitor and you get a copy. Most charge a small fee for this. If you’d rather store it yourself, you could keep it at home but this isn’t really recommended.