Writing a Will as soon as possible ‘is very important’

Posted 27/10/2010

Getting around to writing a Will as soon as possible is very important, one expert has stressed.

Brian McMillan, director general of the Society of Will Writers, said dying without a valid document in place can be very distressing to the people left behind, particularly if partners and dependent children are involved.

Although he acknowledged that thinking about death may be putting some people off, he insisted that it is better to have a Will drawn up than to put relatives through unnecessary heartache.

However, Mr McMillan warned against using DIY Wills, as he said estate planning is too complex for the layperson.

“When writing a Will, it is imperative to use a professional who can demonstrate membership of a professional body which guarantees high levels of training,” he commented.

This comes after new research from Unbiased.co.uk found there are now more than 30 million adults without a Will in place in the UK, rising from 28 million last year.

Ashtons Legal has a large team of solicitors who concentrate solely on estate planning, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Estate Administration and will be happy to help you. We have also recently launched an Online Will option which combines the benefits of time and cost-effectiveness with the safety net of knowing that your Will has been checked by a lawyer. This route is more likely to be suitable for people with relatively straightforward circumstances.