Many people naively believe that the preparation of their will is a straightforward process that doesn’t necessitate legal assistance and can be satisfactorily completed with a ‘DIY’ kit from the local newsagents. After all, how hard can it be to jot down your wishes and explain where you would like all your worldly belongings to end up when you die?
Well, as it happens, drafting a will can be incredibly complex and, with even the slightest of errors creating a host of problems for your loved ones after you’ve gone, it’s really not worth taking the risk.
As an example, in a recent High Court case a judge ruled that the two step-children of a multi-millionaire should not inherit from his £5.4m estate when he died because, even though the intentions in his will were clear, and he had treated those step-children as his own for more than two decades, it was established that he was suffering from dementia the last time the will was updated – by a tax advisor rather than a trained solicitor.
As such, when the four children from his first marriage challenged their step-siblings’ entitlement under the will, and because the tax advisor had not carried out the necessary checks in relation to mental capacity, that challenge was upheld and the step-siblings inherited nothing.
This recent case should serve as a timely reminder of the significance of ensuring your will is prepared properly and competently by a qualified legal professional, otherwise the consequences can be severe, and your wishes may not be carried out.
To request a quote, or to arrange an appointment to prepare/update your will, our team of friendly specialists can be contacted on 01625 850888 or via email to info@mannerspimblett.co.uk.
