If you’re looking to make changes to a will, it’s important to know what you can and can’t do.
If you’ve created a will, then it’s important that you keep it up to date, as figures show that the number of people who die without a valid or up-to-date will is still incredibly high.
The general rule is that you should update your will whenever you have a significant change in your life, whether that’s getting married, getting divorced, the birth of any children or grandchildren, purchasing property, moving house, or any similar momentous life events.
Any change in circumstances should make you consider whether you need to make changes to your will.
If you want to change your will, or talk with a specialist Will Writing Solicitor to see if you need to make changes to your will, simply either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will explain all of the options available to you.
How To Make Changes To A Will
The last thing you want to do is leave your friends and family with decisions to make – by being clear about your wishes, you’ll make the entire process a great deal easier.
Fire up the computer, open your phone’s notes page, or grab a notepad and pen.
You should to write down the names of all of your beneficiaries first, which is just anyone that you want to leave assets to or look after in your will.
And you should also make sure that people know that you have a will and where it’s stored so that when the time comes, they know where to find it so your wishes can be followed.
Remember, probate can’t be granted without the will, so it’s important you know where your will is, that any updates, changes, and amendments are witnessed and that it’s valid.
However you choose to store your will, you should ALWAYS ensure it can be accessed without probate – and you should check this with whomever you’re storing it with.
Making changes to a will essentially means either creating a new, updated will or adding a codicil, which amends your will rather than replacing it. Any changes will need to be properly witnessed just as the creation of a new will would be in order to be valid.
Remember, some of the main reasons for updating your will are:
- Getting married
- Getting divorced or separating
- Having a child or grandchild
- Moving house
- Or if the executor named in the will dies
Why Is Having A Will Important?
Planning for later life is one of those things a lot of us don’t like to talk about, but the prospect of dying intestate isn’t ideal. When someone dies intestate (with a valid will), it can cause all sorts of problems for loved ones when it comes to probate, dealing with the estate, and handling their affairs.
And creating a will is a big decision – you need to know who you’re planning to leave assets to, or if you’re married, you might decide to create a mirror will.
So, if you’re married, cohabiting, have children, grandchildren, own property, a car, or have anything you want to pass on, then creating a will is a wise decision.
You’ll also need to decide who will be the executor of your will, which is the person who will handle your estate after you die.
It’s usually someone close to you such as a partner or child because the role carries a significant amount of responsibility. You can also choose more than one executor (usually a primary and a reserve) so that the reserve executor can step into the role if the primary executor is unable to.
Will Writing Solicitors Near Me
The good news is that at Solicitors Near Me, we’re on hand to help you with your wills and probate requirements, whether that’s creating a new will or amending or updating your will.
We’ll connect you with an expert solicitor near where you live for FREE.
All of our solicitors are hand-selected to be the best at what they do, so you can be assured of a high quality, personal service.
To find a will or probate solicitor near you, simply click the button below, enter a few details and we will soon connect you with a solicitor for FREE.
Find a Will Writing Solicitor Near Me Now
To be connected to a specialist Will writing solicitor near to where you live, please either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry.
