Have you made your will?

There are so many important jobs which feel like they need to be put on hold due to the pandemic. Things like getting your estate in order. But it’s really important to have a will in place. Having a will means you know that your estate will be distrubuted according to your wishes. Without a will there are certain rules which dictate how your money, property and possessions will be allocated. Unmarried partners and partners who have not registered a civil partnership cannot inherit from each other unless there is a will, so the death of one partner may create serious financial problems for the remaining partner. A will is especially important if you have children or other family, or you want to leave something to people outside your immediate family. It’s worth bearing in mind that you can make changes to your will at any time, so don’t let that put you off. You don’t need to use a solicitor to make a will but there are a number of formal requirements needed to make a will legally valid so it is generally advisable to do so. You may be interested to know that March is Free Will month. If you think your will is straightforward this is a great option. You can contact Age UK who will put you in touch with a local solicitor that has signed up to the scheme. For Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove call 01902 731800, for Age UK East Sussex call 01273 476704, or you can call the Age UK national advice line on 0800 678 1602.