For example, if you die without a will, there
are certain rules which dictate how the money, property or possessions should
be allocated. This may not be the way that you would have wished your money and
possessions to be distributed. Also, it may be possible to reduce the amount of
tax payable on the inheritance if advice is taken in advance and a will is
made. Married couples with children under 18 should also consider what
arrangements they want to make if either one or both of them die.
There is no need for a will to be drawn up by
a solicitor. If you wish to make a will yourself, you can do so. However, you
should only consider doing this if the will is going to be straightforward. It
is easy to make mistakes and, if there are errors in the will, this can cause
problems after your death. Sorting out misunderstandings and disputes may
 result in considerable legal costs, which will reduce the amount of money in
the estate. It is best, therefore, to seek legal advice or contact your local
Citizens Advice Bureau.
When a will has been made, it is important to keep it up to date to take
account of changes in circumstances. It is advisable for you to reconsider the
contents of a will regularly to make sure that it still reflects your wishes.
The most common changes of circumstances which affect a will are: getting
married or remarried; getting divorced or separated; the birth or adoption of
children.
There are some circumstances when it is particularly advisable to use a
solicitor. These are where:
-
You
share a property with someone who is not your husband or wife
- You
wish to make provision for a dependant who is unable to care for themselves
- There
are several family members who may make a claim on the will, for example, a
second wife or children from a first marriage
- Your
permanent home is not in the United
Kingdom
- You
are not a British citizen
- You
are resident here but there is overseas property involved a
business is involved
If you want to change your will, you must not do this by amending the original
will after it has been signed and witnessed. Any obvious alterations on the
face of the will are assumed to have been made at a later date and so do not
form a part of the original legally valid will.
The only way you can change a will is by making a codicil to the will or making
a new will. A codicil is a supplement to a will which makes some alterations
but leaves the rest of it intact. This might be done, for example, to increase
a cash legacy, change an executor or guardian named in a will, or to add
beneficiaries. It must be signed by the person who made the will and be
witnessed in the same way. However, the witnesses do not have to be the same as
for the original will.
There is no limit on how many codicils can be added to a will, but they are
only suitable for very straightforward changes. If a complicated change is
involved, it is usually advisable to make a new will.
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