Wills made easy

A Will is a legal document that outlines your wishes regarding the distribution of your assets and the care of any dependents after your death. It serves as a vital tool for estate planning and provides several important benefits, such as distribution of assets, minimising familial disputes, protecting non-traditional family structures, and expressing specific wishes.

If you die without making a Will, it is referred to as dying "intestate." In such cases, the distribution of your assets and the administration of your estate Will be determined by the intestacy laws of your jurisdiction. 

To avoid these potential issues and ensure your wishes are respected, it is strongly recommended to create a Will and periodically update it to reflect any changes in your circumstances or preferences.

In a Will, you can leave various types of gifts to individuals, organisations, or charities. Here are some common examples:

Specific gifts: You can leave specific items of property, such as real estate, vehicles, jewellery, artwork, or sentimental possessions, to specific individuals or organisations.

Monetary gifts: You can designate a specific amount of money to be given to individuals or entities. This can include family members, friends, charitable organisations, or educational institutions.

Residual gifts: After specific gifts and expenses are accounted for, you can leave the remainder of your estate, known as the residue, to one or more beneficiaries. This can be a percentage share or a specific amount.

Charitable gifts: If you have philanthropic interests, you can leave a gift or a portion of your estate to charitable organisations or foundations. This can be done to support causes you care about or to establish a charitable foundation in your name.

Contingent gifts: You can create contingency plans in your Will, where a gift is given to an individual or organisation if certain conditions are met. For example, you may specify that a gift is to be given to a niece or nephew only if they reach a certain age or complete a specific milestone.

Writing a Will is one of those things that you can keep putting off forever. But, let's be frank, with each passing day you move a step closer to the inevitable!

When your 'big day' does come, no one will be prepared for it - but having a legally secure Will in place means that all of those unspoken wishes of yours (who gets what, who looks after who, who doesn't get a penny!) will be taken care of.

Yes, making a will online is perfectly legal. Just like writing a will the traditional way, you will need to meet certain requirements so that the document is valid in a court of law. That means you will need to be 18 and over, be of ‘sound mind’, make the will in writing and the will should be made voluntarily by you. You should sign the document in the presence of two witnesses who are also 18 and over.

One condition is that the witnesses (or their spouses, civil or registered partners) must not be beneficiaries of the will.

Contact Carr Mitchell today for more information about writing up your online Will!