Why make a will?
If your thinking “its about time I wrote my Will”, read on.
A
nd if your thinking, as do the
majority, “why should I, there
is always tomorrow” then you
definitely need to read on. especially if your estate is complex –
although few people believe theirs are as
they start the conversation with “I only
need a simple Will!”.
What are your options when making a
Will? The SWW was formed 24 years ago
this month, to provide the public, the
consumer, with a viable, safe and well
qualified alternative to lawyers which
traditionally has always been considered
the only means available.
DIY – it is a fact that more Wills fail or
are challenged when they have been
done by a well-meaning amateur – you
know what you want to do, but can
you interpret that onto paper so that
the law also knows and understands
what you want. In todays world of more
complex families, higher divorce rate,
more couples living together, same sex
relationships, the list goes on, do you
really know the ramifications when it
comes to former spouses, children, step
children and anyone who considers
themselves dependent on you and the
challenges that can be brought against
your estate at a time when you are unable
to argue back.
Use a professional. I’m not going into
the where’s and why-for’s when it
comes to whether using a solicitor is
better than a professional Will Writer,
simply that whoever you choose as a
professional, ensure that they have the
right qualifications and in the unlikely
event of a complaint it will be dealt fairly
and swiftly, i.e. they have the support and
backing of a recognised body, such as
the Society of Will Writers.
Using a professional Will Writer who is
a member of the Society of Will Writers
(SWW), ensures that the person who is
attending you, will know and understand
your needs and have the necessary
expertise to advise you properly on how
your Will should look and how it will work,
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The Society of Will Writers
At the time the SWW started, and it is
well documented that it would never
last, and that Will Writing was “a disaster
waiting to happen”, twenty four years on,
there are no disasters, the levels of failed
probate applications has not increased
due to poorly drafted Wills, and the
numbers of adults in England and Wales
who now have a valid Will has in fact
risen significantly.
Members of the SWW, collectively write
approximately 250,000 Wills, LPA’s and
other documents each year.
What has increased, and I touched on
this earlier are the growing number of
families, also referred to as blended
families, where there are step children,
children of previous relationships, former
wives, husbands and civil partners, where
a simple Will just won’t do. And whilst a
good Will cannot stop a challenge, it will
help the Court decide of the validity of
any claim from a disgruntled member of
the family or beyond.
To find a member in your area visit our
find a member page:
www.willwriters.com/members