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TIP 5 TAKE YOUR TIME AND THINK

Only you know the people closest to you. A well thought out will goes a very long way to stopping family
arguments. Think through how best you can achieve this – try not to forget anyone. Sometimes what you
want might not be what some of your family might have expected. But if your wishes are clear and concisely
stated your executor can put them into effect. Children and spouses can never have all rights to an estate
removed from them – take advice if you want to know about these rights and how they are applied in law.

TIP6KEEP IT SIMPLE

Making a huge list of small bequests to individuals will generally cost a fortune and many such lists are way
out of date at the death. Usually we will draw into the will a power for the executor to take into account
such lists if handwritten and signed by the person writing the will after the date of the will. This allows the
main body of the will be kept clear and simple.

TIP 7 THINK ABOUT THE AGES OF BENEFICIARIES AND ADVERSE EVENTS.

If someone were to inherit as a child – would you want that? If not give the executors powers to hold the
inheritance till a later age. Most of us these days live to a good age. This means that sometimes
beneficiaries may die before us – it does happen. Think about that and say where that person’s share
should go. It will generally go to any children of that person but if you do not want that say so in the will.

TIP8SAY WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU

A will does not always have to be about property. You can mention in it burial or cremation preferences, who
you would wish to look after children following your death or other things of importance to you. Be sensible
but include any serious wishes – they are after all an instruction to your executors.

TIP 9 REVISIT AND REVIEW YOUR WILL EVERY FEW YEARS.

For those people lucky enough to be in long term stable family arrangements often a will can stay
appropriate for years even decades. But family changes can quickly make wills “out of date” and not
appropriate to the new family circumstances. So review your will at any significant family change – or at
least every three years. You don’t need to change it of course – but just for peace of mind do a three yearly
review.

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