DIY mania has gripped Britain thanks to TV makeover problems, the desire to accomplish something rewarding and the empowerment that we all feel after a few hours of surfing the Net. However, one area in which ‘DIY’ can be far more dangerous then hitting your thumb with a hammer, is that of writing your Will.
Get it wrong and you won’t just be bruised, but bequeathing a potential nightmare for your bereaved and grief-stricken friends and relatives to deal with. Choose to overlook an obvious beneficiary, without explaining why, use words open to a different interpretation, or be ignorant of how the law operates in relation to your individual circumstances and your final wishes may become a ‘DIY disaster’.
Writing a will is a skill, not a hobby – or at least it should be. However, just as many legal loopholes can be found in wills written by unqualified will writers, or by the ‘will factories’ now springing up. Furthermore, the will writing industry is currently unregulated and that there are many so called ‘experts’ literally sticking a nail into the coffin of individuals who thought they were doing right by their family and friends by making a Will.
Having a Will free from loopholes is crucial, whether your desire is to distribute your estate after your death, to save your beneficiaries from paying unnecessary levels of Inheritance Tax, or to leave a sum of money to your favourite charity.
Wills can cause much grief, if they are not written correctly. If you want your loved ones to avoid additional stress as they suffer your bereavement, make sure your Will is sound.