You should not try will writing on your own. There comes a time when we need to think about our last will and testament. No one likes thinking about death. But eventually our age is going to start catching up with us and it’s extremely important to start thinking of the future.
The Corona Virus has made a lot of people start to think about their mortality and how they can protect their families. That’s why there has been a jump in will inquiries by 75%. A will can grant you peace of mind during this troubling time. After all, there is only so much you can do to protect yourself. If the worst comes to the worst, a will can ensure that you can help your family and friends even after you have passed. That’s why it’s crucial that you are able to contact an experienced solicitor to help you through the process.
Your Vulnerability to Covid-19
As you can see from the video, there is a higher chance that you may die from Covid-19 if you are older or have an underlying health condition. That is why the government has imposed a lock down of at least 12 weeks for these vulnerable categories of people. During this time, it is essential that you stay indoors, although you can open a window if you need fresh air. You must not visit anyone and impose social distancing from others who are not currently living with you. The people you live with may also need to discuss their work options so that they do not bring anything home that could be transferred to you.
This whole process is known as “shielding” and has probably given you enough time to yourself to think about the future and what are you going to do if the worst comes to the worst. According to deVere group’s CEO, Nigel Green, he has claimed that the current will enquiries from vulnerable people are due to “minds being more focused” on a post-death financial plan. More specifically, Green claimed:
”The corona virus pandemic has had an unprecedented, collective focusing-of-minds effect. Like too many aspects of financial planning, including retirement planning, drawing up a will is not something that most people rush to do. It remains ‘on the back burner’ until something, such as an illness or a change of circumstances, focuses minds.”
People have more time on their hands to think about their own personal lives thanks to social distancing. Without the distraction of work, socialisation and private matters, it is natural to think about the prospect of the future and how your family will be able to cope if the worst comes to the worst.
Why is it so important to have a valid will?
This is a time of uncertainty. You cannot possibly leave anything to chance, including your own health. You may be following all of the lock down rules perfectly, but there is still a chance that you could potentially catch Covid-19. That’s why it is important to consider what you want to leave behind if your children or family are struggling due to an unfair dismissal case once the pandemic has ended.
However, there are additional reasons why you need to consider creating a will in this pandemic:
As you can see, there are a number of emotional and logical reasons why creating a will can help both you and your family. Documenting your financial assets can help your family and friends organise themselves based on what your wishes were. During the grieving process, this can ease the burden on them, especially if they are your executor.
So, now that you have motivation to start creating your will, you may be considering how you can even begin whilst you are still under lockdown. Well, the answer is a lot simpler than you think.
The Basics of Will Creation: Corona Virus Edition
If you are interested in creating a will, it’s important that you understand what information you need to place in it. Yes, you may have assets, but you need to know precisely what you want to pass on to your friends, relatives and loved ones. Working with a Gowing Law Solicitor can help simplify the process, however until you make a consultation, we have made things easier with an infographic. Please see below for more information:
Remember, Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with this will creation process. If you bring us all the information that you want to put into your will, it can be constructed in an extremely organised manner. We understand that the Corona Virus has caused some difficulties in the will writing process. That’s why not all of these will writing legalities will be able to be adhered to in the future. If you are concerned about this, make sure to contact our lawyers for their advice. It is completely free.
The Call for a Laxing of the Law
Amongst this rise in will writing, some problems have occurred. As we are currently all self-isolating and are social distancing from each other, this has made it extremely hard to find witnesses to validate the will. Although there has been talk about video-calling being a way of getting around it, it has been agreed that a physical presence is still required in order to make sure that the will writer has not been forced and is of sound mind. That’s why the following options may need to be considered in order to get around it:
All of these ways will suitably ensure that you are kept away from people, whilst ensuring that you comply with will validation rules. With two witnesses saying that they signed and saw you sign your contract, that means that it is legally binding and will ensure your peace of mind.
If you want more advice on how to validate your will during the pandemic, please speak to our will specialists for their opinion. Although you cannot sign a contract with an electronic signature, the influx of will requests may soon change this.
The Use of a Trained Will Solicitor
Yes, you can create a will on your own, and can seek government advice to get started, but have you ever considered what will happen if you make a mistake in your will? This could destroy the validity of your writing altogether. It will not hold up and instead will force the UK court system to try and divide your assets up equally to your family. If that is not what you wanted then this could spell disaster for you!
Specialist will writers, like Gowing Law’s team of experienced will solicitors in Manchester, will ensure that no mistakes are made before, during and after the will writing process is complete. Here are a few examples of some benefits that may convince you further:
The Perks of having a Will Solicitor
- You can avoid common mistakes that may invalidate your will.
- Your solicitor will understand the formal requirements of making a legal will.
- Your lawyer will take into account all of your money, property and assets available before making the will.
- A solicitor will understand how to make quick changes to the will should your beneficiary die before the will-maker.
- A lawyer will know how to simplify a complicated will and ensure that your wishes are carried out efficiently.
- A specialist will be able to advice you and your executor how to hand out the assets of your will, even if there are assets or a business that are overseas.
- You will have full control over the will, but your lawyer will be able to draft it in a way that is logical, understandable and valid. You can suggest any additional changes that you need.
Remember, you can hire multiple people to help you with your will. For instance, you can seek the advice of a solicitor, but if you are part of a trade union, they may offer a free will writing service. However, make sure that if you use their services, make sure that it belongs to The Institute of Professional Will writers. That way you can ensure that the will created will be completely valid.
How much does it cost to create a will?
Now, this depends on the solicitor that you decide to use and the complexity of your will. However, if you tend to use Gowing Law Solicitors, here are the following prices:
How long does it take for writing wills?
Again, this depends on how complicated your will is and how many assets you have. Gowing Law’s trained will solicitors aim to get you a draft of your will as quickly as possible after your initial consultation. Whether it takes a few weeks or a few months depends on your redrafts and how many financial obligations you have. Make sure to contact Gowing Law Solicitors to discuss your own situation and your will.
Ready to learn more about the law from our blog?
As we are all currently in lock down, Gowing Law Solicitors wants to entertain and inform our clients with large law blogs about a range of topics. This includes the basics of PPI tax, miscalculated mortgage claims and even UK immigration during Brexit. Feel free to look at our blog page if you want to know more. We are confident you will like what you find. Happy reading!
Contact Gowing Law Solicitors for help!
Here at Gowing Law, we will prioritize your will to ensure that it is quickly validated. We understand that as we are all working remotely, this may make things quite difficult. However, we will work around your schedule and maintain social distancing. This way we can keep on track without any danger to you or your family. We will work with you to ensure that writing your will has your own personal touch. Our specialist will solicitors in Manchester are extremely sensitive and will treat your case with care. Make sure to provide them with as much information as possible. That way we can construct your will in a way that counts.
You can also contact Gowing Law Solicitors through our contact number (0800 041 8350) or through our email (info@gowinglaw.co.uk.). We would be happy to discuss any additional queries you may have about our will-writing series.
Keep safe, secure and stay at home!
