What is the process of writing your Will?
What is the process of drafting a Will with Margaret Ambrose?
Making a Will can feel like a daunting task and it is often at the end of the to-do list! In reality however, the process is straightforward once you have made a start. After signing your Will, you can rest assured that you have made plans for your estate, and you will no doubt feel a sense of relief. A professionally drafted Will ensures that your wishes are clearly recorded and that your estate passes to the people and organisations you choose.
Firstly, make an appointment with Margaret so that we can introduce each other and find out what it is you need, e.g. a Will for yourself or for you and a partner/spouse, or whether you need Lasting Powers of Attorney. This appointment is around 15-20 minutes and can take place online or by telephone.
Following that first step you will receive a Will Questionnaire from Margaret which will prompt some concrete thinking on your part as to the key points of your Will. We then fix up a second meeting to go through the details of what you need to put in to place in your Will. This meeting is 30 minutes to one hour long, to go through the points on the questionnaire. If you do not have time to fill out the questionnaire before this meeting that it not a problem, as we also go through it when we speak.
The Will instructions meeting
The meeting begins with a discussion about your personal and financial circumstances. This will usually cover: your family and anyone who depends on you; your property, savings and other assets – the broad elements of what you own and whether your own any assets abroad; who you would like to appoint as your executors (who manage your affairs after your death); who should inherit your estate; any particular monetary gifts or charitable donations; guardians for children under 18; whether you would like someone named in the will to look after any pets; whether you would like to be buried or cremated.
You will also be asked (for anti-money laundering purposes) to provide identification of your identity (e.g. a passport or driving licence) and proof of your address (e.g. a utility bill dated within the last three months) and details of the people named in your Will.
Once Margaret has an understanding of your circumstances she will explain the available options and identify any issues that should be considered.
This may be particularly important if you have an unmarried partner, children from a previous relationship, overseas assets, a business, or someone in your family who is vulnerable or financially dependent on you.
Preparing the draft Will
Margaret then prepares a draft Will for you to review. We will go over on the telephone or online any queries, or by email if you prefer. Any changes can be made before the Will is signed.
Signing the Will
For a Will to be valid, it must be signed correctly in the presence of two independent witnesses, who sign as witnesses. These witnesses must be over the age of 18 and must not be beneficiaries of the Will (and must not be married to any of the beneficiaries either).
Storing and reviewing your Will
Once signed, the original Will should be stored safely and your executors should know where it can be found. It is also sensible to send soft copies of the Will to your executors.
It is also important to review your Will after a significant life event, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a death in the family or a substantial change in your financial circumstances.
Margaret Ambrose provides a personal and straightforward Will drafting service, guiding you through each stage of the Will process and ensuring that your wishes are recorded clearly.
To discuss making or updating your Will, please get in touch to arrange a free initial consultation.