Do I need a Solicitor to Prepare my Will? (just need content)

If you are considering making a will, the first step should be to speak to a lawyer who is experienced in preparing wills. 

There are many different ways in which wills can be made these days, including:

• making them using online platforms;
• filling in paper templates which can be purchased from shops;
• asking non-legal professionals such as accountants or investment advisors to prepare your will for you;
• getting a bank or other financial institution to prepare your will;
• instructing a non-regulated will-writer; or
• writing your will yourself.

In all of these cases, you will not be getting advice from anyone who is legally trained and qualified to prepare your will for you. Some of these options may be slightly cheaper than using your local firm of solicitors, but the few pounds you might save now, could end up costing you and your loved ones very dearly, if the will is not drafted properly. 

Wills are complex and technical documents, that are incredibly important to ensure that your assets go to the right people or charities after your death. If your will has not been drawn up properly, your loved ones could encounter all sorts of problems and have to deal with lengthy and expensive court proceedings, after you have died.

If you do not use a qualified lawyer to prepare your will for you, your loved ones would not be able to claim the costs of sorting out any issues from anyone else - those costs would have to come from your estate. If you used a solicitor to prepare your will, in the unlikely event that problems arose because they had not drafted the will properly, your loved ones would be able to claim costs from the lawyer's firm, and complain to their regulatory body. 

If you use a local solicitor to prepare your will, you will have the advantage of being able to visit them in person. This massively reduces the possibility that your will could be challenged after you die. If you find it difficult to get out of your house, or if you are in hospital, a good local solicitor will be able to visit you to take instructions for your will, to make sure that you and your loved ones are protected when you die. 

If you want to find a solicitor to write a will, contact a local well-established firm of solicitors, who will be able to help you. 

At Samuels Solicitors we have helped local clients prepare their wills for several decades. Contact us for a free discussion about how to make your will.