Last Will and Testament

Making a Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death. If you have not made a valid Will, your property  will pass according to the Law of Intestacy. This may not be what you  have wished. In any event it is likely to take longer to finalise than  if you had made a Will. During this time your beneficiaries may not be  able to draw any money from your estate. It can mean arguments and  distress for relatives. Making a Will lets your loved ones know that you cared enough to ‘sort things out’ in advance.

IF YOU are a single  person you will want your estate divided amongst friends, relatives and  charities of your choosing and in the proportions you want.

IF YOU  are married, don’t assume ‘my other half will get everything’. Brothers  and sister or parents may have a claim. Often your children have a right to part of your estate. If you are living as a couple but not  officially married, you may be treated as a single person and a  surviving partner may get nothing at all. One thing you can be certain  of – there will be argument and dispute at a time when the family should be coping with the loss of a loved one.

IF YOU are a parent, you  should consider who would look after your children in the event of your  death. This is particularly important in the case of one parent families or unmarried parents living together. A valid Will nominating guardians is invaluable in such cases. If no one knows what you would have  wanted, the Court will decide on the future of your children, and it may not be what you would have wished.

IF YOU are retired maybe you  made a Will a long time ago. It probably needs updating to include  additional grandchildren or deletion of persons you no longer feel you  wish to leave anything to.

A Will brings security, reassurance and  above all peace of mind – not just for you, but for those who depend on  you, either now or in the future.