We strongly recommend that you seek legal advice before making a Will. A homemade Will or a Will made on-line can lead to horrendous problems as they have not been drafted by a legally trained person. I have summarised some of the common problems that we have encountered with regards to homemade wills:-
- Will has not been signed and witnessed correctly, which leads to the Will being declared as invalid and therefore the estate may be administered under the Intestacy Rules.
- A beneficiary is also a witness to the Will, which invalidates any legacy or share under the terms of the Will.
- Amending your Will after it has been signed or marking it in any way, can lead to the Will being seen to be tampered with.
- If you have left certain beneficiaries out of your Will, depending on their relationship to you, they may be entitled to claim under the Inheritance Provisions for Family and Dependants Act 1975.
- If you have an estate worth in excess of the inheritance tax threshold and if you do not make a Will that takes this into account, then unnecessary amounts of Inheritance Tax may be payable on your estate.
- You receive no guidance on complex issues such as step-children, tax and possible claims against your estate. You also do not have peace of mind that your last Will and Testament is valid and correctly signed and witnessed.
If you want to make provisions for your loved ones then give us a call on 0800 294 4892 or fill out our online contact form. Our Wills and Probate department are always on hand to help.
