Making a Will during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak
According to The Law Society, the number of people wishing to make a Will during the Coronavirus pandemic has increased by some 75%. This is welcome news against the worrying statistic that 54% of adults in the United Kingdom do not have Wills, potentially leaving their loved ones at risk.
How do we go about making a Will during self-isolation and lockdown?
Clearly face-to-face meetings will not be feasible for the foreseeable future. At M&S Solicitors we have effective alternative modes of communication at our disposal. These include Skype, video conferencing, telephone calls and emails, whichever is most convenient for you.
Once we have taken your instructions, we will prepare and forward on to you a draft Will, for your approval. When approved, we will send this to you with clear instructions for your signature.
Signing a Will
A Will must be signed in the presence of two independent witnesses. We recommend you ask two friends or relatives who live close to you and who are from the same household to act as witnesses. Your Will cannot be witnessed by anyone mentioned in your Will, either as your Executor or as a beneficiary or their spouse/civil partner. We would write to your witnesses in advance with clear instructions so that they know what they are being asked to do.
We recommend you make arrangements to meet where the witnesses can see you clearly but where you are separated by glass. The easiest options are through a house window or the windscreen of a car. Once signed and witnessed you then have a valid Will.
Changes to the law
Finally, please note that both The Law Society and The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners are presently in talks with the Government with a view to changing the witnessing requirements. If there is a change of the law, we will notify you.
For more advice or information in relation to making or updating a Will, please contact Vanessa Whittington of our office on 01530 266000 or by email.
