60% of Adults in Scotland and throughout UK don’t have a WILL

A recent survey by Unbiased has revealed that 60% of adults in Scotland and across the UK are currently without a Will. 

This is an alarming finding because dying without a Will can leave loved ones unprotected and create additional stress and worry for them at an already very difficult time. Other important reasons for writing a Will include:

• It is the most effective way of ensuring your estate is distributed in accordance with your wishes. Dying intestate, or without a Will, means your estate will be distributed in accordance with intestacy law, which might result in your assets going to people you wouldn’t have chosen to be your heirs.
• You can minimise the risk of family members falling out over how your estate is distributed.
• A professionally drafted Will can help minimise any inheritance tax obligations.
• If you have young children, your Will can nominate your chosen guardian for them should anything happen to you and your partner.
• You can arrange through your Will for a specified amount of your estate to be left as a charitable legacy to a cause close to your heart.

Most Common Reasons for Not Making a Will

Respondents to the survey gave a variety of reasons for not making a Will. The most common reason was that they plan to make one later in life, which was mentioned by 26%. This was followed by:

• I don’t think I will have any estate/assets left to be worth writing a Will
• It never occurred to me
• I can’t afford the cost of setting up a Will
• I don’t know how to go about writing a Will

“It looks as if people still aren’t getting the message,” commented Karen Barrett, CEO and founder of Unbiased. “The huge benefits of having a Will, and the even bigger risks of not having one, should be far more widely known and talked about. People think a Will is just for the end of their life, and it is – but who knows when that will be?”

“Your Will is your last chance to make your mark on the world,” she added. “Whether giving sentimental items to family and friends, or leaving charitable gifts, your final wishes help to shape how people will remember you. No-one should miss out on this chance to leave a proper legacy.”

Make a Will with Scullion LAW

At Scullion LAW, we have a trusted Wills & Future Planning team with over 40 years combined experience assisting families and individuals in Glasgow, Hamilton and across Scotland make their Wills. We recommend that everyone, no matter your age, financial or personal circumstances, makes a Will to protect the people and things that are most important to you. We also encourage our clients to update their Wills every three to five years, or when anything significant happens in their lives, like buying a new home.

Scullion LAW would like to help all our clients put this important future-planning document in place. To help prepare for writing a Will, Scullion LAW has a useful Wills Questionnaire available for you to download and complete from the comfort of your own home. You can then make an appointment with one of our Wills & Future Planning team at a time that suits you best. We can also offer home visits upon request.

Continued to commitment to community

As part our continued commitment to the community, Scullion LAW provides charitable support to Marie Curie by offering a free Will writing service for everyone aged over 55 living across Lanarkshire and Glasgow. We created over 200 Wills and raised over £25,000+ in legacies for the charity. We will be running this project again in Spring 2018.

Our Wills & Future Planning team are also trained Dementia Friends. Our Dementia Friendly Solicitors are on hand to help those living with Dementia in our community in a number of ways, including assisting with Will writing and updating.

Contact our Wills & Future Planning Experts in Glasgow and Hamilton, Scotland

If you need help to make a Will to protect the people you love and the things that matter most to you, contact us today. Our Private Client team also advise and support clients who are dealing with estates after the death of a loved one. To find out how we can help you and your family, contact our specialist Wills & Future Planning team today. Call us on 0141 413 9721 or fill out our online form and we’ll call you back shortly.

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from Scullion Law https://scullionlaw.com/adults-scotland-without-will/
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