Will Writing

You may already have a Will – but are you sure it’s up-to-date and reflects your current wishes? It’s one of the most important documents that you will ever make, but it’s probably the most common one to be put off until a later date.

This is one of the many reasons why so many of the adult population do not have a Will, and so die intestate a situation in which the State may make a Will for the deceased to decide how their Estate will be distributed.

You may think that everything will simply pass to your spouse or children – but this isn’t always the case. Worse still, unmarried couples risk leaving their partner nothing or separated spouses could inherit part of the Estate. In addition, courts may be left to decide who brings up your orphaned children and those you would have gifted to cannot inherit without a Will in place.

Our lives are changing all of the time. When most people write their Will, they base their choices on their circumstances at the time. If any of the following events have happened since you last wrote a Will, then now is the time to consider updating it:

• Change in relationship
• Family Growth
• Bereavement
• You wish to change your Guardians
• Your children are now old enough to be executors to administer your Estate
• You have received an inheritance and your financial status has changed

Throughout your life circumstances constantly change; at Golden Charter we recommend you update your Will at least every five years and we can do this for you. We are members of the ISPW– (Institute of Scottish Professional Will-writers - www.ipw.org.uk) and are happy to provide expert advice from our team of Will-writers.

The benefits of organising your Will are:

• Complete peace of mind for you
• Making sure that those you want to inherit do so
• Prevents your family from added distress at an already difficult time
• If you're an unmarried couple, you can make sure your partner is provided for

We make it easy and inexpensive to write or update your Will. What’s more, it could cost less than going through your bank or solicitor.

Related FAQs

What details go into a Will?

Standard or simple Wills contain the following: your own personal details, appointed Executors and Trustees, appointed guardians, funeral details, gifting and residue of your Estate.

What happens if I die without a Will?

If you die without a Will in place, the Rules of Intestacy apply. This means that the law will decide who should be responsible for your affairs and ultimately who will inherit your Estate. This could mean that those that you would prefer not to inherit will in fact benefit.

Who can be my Executor?

The people most commonly appointed as Executors on a Will are: relatives or friends, solicitors or accountants or even banks. It is important to choose your Executor carefully as this person will have to take on a great deal of responsibility and work.

Why do I need to up-date my Will?

Throughout your life, your circumstances change and this can affect your Will. For example, if your relationship status has changed or if you have become a parent then you may wish to up-date your will to reflect your current circumstances. We suggest that you up-date your Will at least every five years.