Changing a will

Significant life events may mean you need to revisit an existing Will. If you recently became a grandparent or have a new partner, you may wish to update your Will to provide for additional beneficiaries. Alternatively, if your Will was drafted some time ago, you may need to review it more generally. Our experienced probate solicitors can provide the advice and assistance you require when changing a Will, to protect your interests and those of your loved ones.

There are many reasons for reviewing or updating a Will and significant life events provide a good opportunity to review your Will more generally. In the absence of such changes we recommend doing this on a five yearly basis.

For example, many people are not aware that by getting married your Will is automatically revoked. There can be many other subtle changes that affect the appropriateness of your executors or legacies. Changes to your existing beneficiaries’ circumstances or your wishes as to who you want to benefit from your Will may also necessitate an update.

We will provide you specific advice regarding the appropriateness of any trusts within your Will and whether these need to be amended or removed as well as any tax implications.

The most important considerations in respect of your existing Will are:

• Are your executors still the most appropriate persons to appoint?
• Do you need to alter/remove/add any specific bequests?
• Are any trusts in your Will still necessary or do some need to be incorporated?
• Are your beneficiaries, for example children, now grown up with children of their own whom you would like to make provision for?
• Do any proposed changes to my Will affect the tax position?

We will take your instructions as to what amendments you wish to make to your Will and we will consider how to best legally incorporate these.