Do I need to make a will?

Making a will can be an uncomfortable and complicated process, which can be off putting.  But with more complex family structures, and more people choosing to live together rather than marry, making sure that your assets go to the people you want, doesn’t always happen if you haven’t made a will.

Without a will, your estate falls under the government's strict intestacy rules which mean that you get no say as to who inherits what. If you're unmarried, your partner has no automatic right to inherit anything, no matter how long you've been together.

Our Will writing solicitors will talk you through what you need to do, explaining the process and help you to make a will that covers all your needs.

Here are 10 reasons to make a will

1. To make life easier for your loved ones
2. To enable you to choose who will inherit your assets and on what terms
3. To appoint guardians for your children and make financial provision for their upkeep and education
4. To ensure that your partner doesn’t suffer any unnecessary financial hardship
5. To arrange a fair split of assets between your family and your spouse’s family if you both die at the same time
6. To make provision for your children from a previous relationship at the same time as providing for your new spouse or partner
7. To protect your assets if your chosen beneficiaries are vulnerable, or could face bankruptcy or divorce, or may need to pay for long term care
8. To ensure that you don’t have to pay any more Inheritance Tax than you have to
9. To put steps in place for your business to run smoothly after you have died
10. To express your wishes in respect to funeral arrangements

Already have a Will in place?

We recommend that everyone should review their Will whenever there is a major change in life such as buying or selling a home, getting married, starting a family or getting divorced. 

So, if you have experienced a change in circumstances contact our Wills Team in Harpenden to arrange a review of your existing will.

Here to Help

If you would like to make a will or amend an existing will, please get in touch with our Specialist team of Will Writing solicitors based at our Harpenden office. Call 01582 715234, email info@nevesllp.co.uk or complete our Online Contact Form and we'll get back to you.

See also

• Significance of not having a will
• What happens if you die and haven't made a will?
• Cohabitation agreements
• What you should know if you are cohabiting
• Making a will in anticipation of marriage
• Keeping your will updated
• Testamentary Freedom
• Excluding someone from your will
• Probate and Intestacy
• The importance of making a will