Cardiff solicitors urge people to get writing a will off their to-do list
Mar
A Cardiff-based firm of solicitors is encouraging people to consider the risks of not writing a will, following the release of new research from The Association of Lifetime Lawyers which shows that nearly half of all UK adults do not have a will in place.
In addition, the data has revealed that 43% of UK adults aged over 30 who don’t have a will say it’s been on their to-do list for more than 12 months, whilst 1 in 10 UK adults have started making a will but haven’t finished it, and nearly a third (32%) say they haven’t made a will because they don’t know how to get started. A quarter of people who have making a will on their to-do list, would prioritise watching TV over getting a will in place.
The Association of Lifetime Lawyers represents a community of the most qualified legal professionals in the UK supporting vulnerable and older people with expert advice and support.
Afonwy Howell-Pryce, an accredited Lifetime Lawyer and Senior Associate Solicitor at Harding Evans Solicitors in Whitchurch, says these worrying findings could leave many bereaved families distressed if their loved ones haven’t communicated their wishes legally through a will.
Ms Howell-Pryce said:
“We all know how important this type of life admin is, but the research shows just how hard people find it to get started. It doesn’t need to take a long time to prepare or update your will, especially if you have an expert to guide you through the process. And it’s time well spent, reducing the burden on your loved ones after your death, and reducing the risk of disputes that can be costly in time and money to resolve.
“Many people think they’re too young to write a will, and understandably don’t like to think about the worst that could happen, but we often deal with cases where a badly drafted or non-existent will has caused undue distress to those left behind.
“The research shows 21% of wills are handwritten or have handwritten amendments which could make them illegible and therefore difficult to understand. To get your will right, it’s always safest to speak to a specialist, who can help you plan for the future and communicate your wishes in the right way.
“It’s best practice to review and update your will every five years, or when a major change in your life occurs that impacts you or your loved ones, such as a marriage or civil partnership, divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership, a new birth, a death in your family, or if you or one of your beneficiaries has changed their name, or obtained a Gender Recognition Certificate.”
If you ned more information on writing a Will, please contact Harding Evans on 029 2267 6818.
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