Three phases of making a Will
Preparation, drafting and execution
By Administrator1 author27 articles
Preparing to make your will
Things to think about before you start
- Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)An explanation of STEP provisions and how they are incorporated into Wills
- Will checklistInformation you need ready to make your Will
- Gathering information to make your WillKey details you need for your Will
- Estate value - why is it important?What is included in your estate and how to estimate its value for your Will
- Joint property and your WillHow your Will deals with property you share
Drafting your will
What goes in your Will
- Getting help with your WillYour Will must accurately reflect your own wishes
- Contemplation of marriage/ civil partnershipHow does marriage or entering into a civil partnership affect the legality of your Will or the making of one?
- What is in your estateDealing with assets, property and personal possessions in your Will
- Deciding about beneficiariesWho can benefit from your Will and what they can do
- Residuary EstateAn explanation of residuary estates in Wills
- Types of gift to charity in a WillHow to leave gifts or your whole estate to charity and the tax advantages of doing so
- Gifts in WillsSpecific, non-specific, pecuniary and residuary gifts in your Will
- Individual and Joint LegaciesThe differences between individual and joint legacies and potential issues with gifting a joint legacy
- Funeral WishesHow to make your funeral wishes known through your Will or a letter of wishes
- Organ DonationHow to express organ donation wishes
- Conditions in a WillRules on making gifts in Wills conditional and where they may not be permitted
- Digital assets and estate planningGifting your online photographs, content and IP
- Holographic WillHandwritten Wills and their risks
- Deathbed WillMaking a Will in an emergency
- Letter of wishesTelling people what you would like to happen when you die
- Signing a Will - getting it rightMake it a valid, legal Will
Executing your will
How you turn your draft into your validly executed Will
- Will storageOptions for storing your Will
- Knowing and approving the contents of your WillKnow what your Will says
- Video witnessing of your WillMaking a Will under COVID
- Witnessing Wills and social distancingWitnessing your Will during Covid-19
- Having your Will witnessedTo be valid your Will must be signed in the presence of witnesses