Wills
A will is a legal document that expresses how a person would like to distribute their money, property, and possessions after their death.
It should contain instructions for how their estate should be divided, and who will inherit the money and assets.
Terminology
- Testator– Person who has died
- Estate – All the money, possessions and assets left by the testator
- Executor – The person nominated by the testator to manage and oversee the distribution of the estate
- Beneficiaries – The people who inherit from the will
Does a will need to be written by a solicitor?
While most legal professionals recommend seeking legal assistance with writing a will, it is perfectly legal to write your own will.
A will can be an official document drafted by a professional will writer, or a handwritten note.
Legal professionals warn against DIY wills, however, because they are susceptible to errors in the way they were written, and can often lead to legal problems when the will is executed.
As such, inheritance disputes often arise because of poorly written or invalid wills.