A Will is a legal document that conveys the wishes of the recently deceased regarding the distribution of their assets, as well as the care of their loved ones. Over the past year, online searches for ‘Will writing’ have hit 100,000 over the last 12 months in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Martin Oliver, the Head of Contentious Probate at law firm Wright Hassall, is sharing the most common mistakes Britons keep making when writing their Wills.
Mr Oliver said “not paying enough attention to the wording of the Will and whether this implements the testator’s wishes” is another error.
To mark Free Will Month, Wright Hassall has outlined the top four tips to creating the perfect Will to take care of your assets and loved ones.
These include: seeking expert advice from a qualified solicitor, being clear and informative within the Will itself and being in communication with your loved ones regarding the content of the Will.
Finally, the law firm is reminding the British public to constantly review their Will to ensure they are not falling into the common mistakes as listed above.
Katie Alsop, a Partner in Wright Hassall’s Contentious Probate team, explains the importance of having a will and the best steps to take to make sure your wishes can’t be contested.
Ms Alsop said: “In the UK it is reported that over half of adults don’t have a Will in place, which is concerning to say the least.”
“Throughout your life you work hard to build up your savings and buy nice things, as well as look after precious family heirlooms, so it’s important that when you’re no longer here, these items are given to the people or causes that you care about the most.
“You’re bound to trust your loved ones to carry out your wishes, but often grief can cause rash decisions, meaning the conversation you’ve had with your family regarding what should happen with your possessions may no longer be abided by.
“It’s important you do so, so that your relatives and friends are aware of your wishes and so that you can be rest assured that you have a will in place that has been created by a legal expert and will minimise the chances of animosity amongst your family once you’re gone.”
Anyone concerned about beginning the process of writing their Will is encouraged to reach out to a legal professional as soon as possible.
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