Focus SWW Autumn 2016 | Page 21

Emergency Will What do you need to know? There are certain circumstances under which you may need a Will prepared incredibly quickly. This is known as an emergency Will. A Will is only ever a snapshot in time. This is why it is important that you update your Will every 3 to 5 years. If you don’t have a Will and something happened to you then your estate would pass in accordance with the rules of intestacy. This may not be how you would wish. In the event that you are admitted to hospital or are going on holiday and would like a Will produced as a matter of urgency then a Will Writer or Estate Planning Professional will be able to take instructions and create the document ready for signing and witnessing. Ordinarily the Will Writer would come to your location and take your instructions for your Will. This Will may not allow time for proper tax planning or advice. As such it should be considered an interim Will. If I is being written as a deathbed Will then thought should be given to the prospects of it being challenged. Your estate planner should provide you with information about the risks of excluding people from your Will that may be considered to be entitled. For more information please contact the SWW on 01522 687888 or email [email protected] The Society of Will Writers 19