What to think about when making a will
chapter
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.
- Who do you want as the executor?
The executor is the person you officially choose to carry out your wishes.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.