Guidelines for Creating Your Own Will
People often die without creating a will – and in this situation it’s not unusual for money to be shared between the family. In these cases where this might not be desirable, or when an individual or couple wants to ensure that particular assets go to specific people, then creating a legal will might be more convenient.
This can avoid any issues in the future between those in receipt of assets; but it can also offer peace of mind to the individual that passes on. In the event of death and without the presence of an authorised will things can get very messy – and this is where doing your own will can be beneficial to all parties involved.
Can anyone create a will?
Generally speaking, any adult can create a will – but the way in which the document should be created can dictate whether or not the content contained within will be recognised in a court of law; or when a solicitor is dividing assets on behalf of the will-writer. In order for a will to be considered the final authority on a person’s pre-death wishes, it should possess each of the following features:
- A signature from the creator of the will
- A witness signature
- An official date of creation
Online resources for legal wills and contracts.