Wills Lawyers, Aberdeen

Most of us do not want to think about what will happen after we die. It can be a painful thing to think about, and you may avoid talking about it in fear of upsetting family members. However, a will can give you peace of mind about the future.

For expert advice, complete our online enquiry form today or call us on 01224 515591.

Writing a will is the only way to ensure that your property is distributed in the way you want after your death. It can also make winding up your estate much quicker, cheaper and easier than it would have been if there was no will in place.

Writing a will gives you control over what happens to your money, personal possessions and assets. You can choose to leave a sum of money to someone you cared a lot about or can leave money to a charity that was close to your heart. You can also state that want to leave a specific possession to a particular person. This would not be possible if your estate was dealt with under the rules of intestacy.

Writing a Valid Will

A will must be in writing to be valid. It must be signed on every page. The signature of the person making the will must be witnessed.

A person must have capacity to make a will. This means that you must be of sound mind and capable of understanding what you are doing. As many people get older, they lose the capacity to make legal decisions and make a will. Many people always intend to make a will but put it off for years and years until it is too late. For this reason, it is best to arrange a will sooner rather than later.

Choosing an Executor

Writing a will gives you the opportunity to appoint an Executor. An Executor is the person who deals with the administration of your estate after you die. This is an important role that involves applying to the court for confirmation, paying debts on behalf of the deceased, closing the deceased’s bank accounts, winding up the estate and distributing the estate to the beneficiaries under the will.

You should appoint an Executor you trust and believe can carry out the responsibilities. You can appoint more than one Executor and in most cases, the Executors will be close family members of the deceased. Many people also choose to appoint a solicitor as one of the Executors to help the other Executors carry out their duties.

Dying Without a Will

When someone dies without making a will, their estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy. This may not reflect the way the deceased would have wished their estate to the distributed.

The absence of a will can also lead to a delayed and complicated administration process. This can cause additional stress for a family at an already difficult time.

Aberdeen Will Lawyers

Our friendly team can assist you with all aspects of writing a will and dealing with inheritance tax issues. Contact us today for straightforward advice and assistance.

Please complete our online enquiry form today or call us on 01224 515591.