Thinking about death is often difficult but it is important to make a Will for a range of reasons. It is important that any children you have are looked after in the way you would want and property or other assets you may own are planned for and are distributed as you wish. If you die without leaving a Will, only married or civil partners (and some other close relatives) can inherit from your estate. The government’s MoneyHelper website has good information and guides on making a Will, inheritance tax and advice and guidance about getting your affairs in order.
A Will can be quite easy to arrange and costs can be relatively cheap. Unless your Will is complicated, you do not necessarily need to have a solicitor guide you. It is possible to be able to write a Will yourself or there are many will-writing services. If you choose to use a Will-writing service it is worth checking they are a member of the Society of Will Writers or the Institute of Professional Will Writers. If you need to find a qualified solicitor in your area, you can use the directories on the websites of the Law Societies in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
