The dangers of making a DIY will

Ensure your estate reaches the right people with a Will

The instant appeal of a DIY Will is, of course, the price. A DIY Will can be written by a person themselves or a template Will could be obtained and filled out for free or for a small fee. The main question is, however – “Is the document legally correct?”

In practice, legal professionals often are contacted by bereaved families to ask the question – “Is the DIY Will actually valid?”

There are also other factors to consider such as:

Those are just a few questions asked and there are many more depending on the specific circumstances of an individual person.

A person who makes a DIY Will sometimes don’t realise the potential consequences that their loved ones will have to tackle if the Will isn’t fit for purpose. Each person’s affairs, assets and circumstances are unique so a ‘one size fits all standard DIY Will template’ isn’t always suitable.

For peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones, it is therefore always recommended to have your Will drafted by a firm of solicitors. Specialist advice is then given as part of the Will writing service and the Will will be appropriately drafted by a suitably qualified legal professional to ensure it is valid, and suitable, for each individual person’s circumstances.

If you feel your DIY Will may not be up to scratch, or if you don’t have a Will in place at all, contact Hatch Brenner on 01603 660811.