Writing a will

If you of the person you care for do not have a will, or circumstances have changed since this will was made, this is something you may wish to consider.

Your will lets you decide what happens to your money, property and possessions after your death. If you make a will you can also make sure you do not pay more Inheritance Tax than you need to.

You can write your will yourself, but you should get advice if your will is not straightforward. You need to get your will formally witnessed and signed to make it legally valid.

If you want to update your will, you need to make an official alteration (called a ‘codicil’) or make a new will.

If you or the person you care for dies without a will, the law decides who gets what.

You can get advice from a professional if your will is not straightforward, for example:

• you share a property with someone who is not your husband, wife or civil partner
• you want to leave money or property to a dependant who cannot care for themselves
• you have several family members who may make a claim on your will, such as a second spouse or children from another marriage
• your permanent home is outside the UK
• you have property overseas
• you have a business.

To find out more about making a will and some of the factors you may want to think about you can visit the Government website at www.gov.uk/make-will