REMEMBER, YOUR WILL ONLY COMES INTO EFFECT WHEN YOU DIE

This article is a reminder that a Will only comes into effect when you die. Your Will is valid when you and your witnesses sign it, but your wishes in the Will are not carried out until you die. You can change your Will at any time before you die, so long as you still have mental capacity.

This week, I had a meeting with a widow and her children, who believed that when their spouse/father set up their will in late 1999 they had transferred part ownership of their property to their children. I obtained a copy of the Land Registry title and there was no mention of the children owning a share in the property. The family have no documents to prove they intended the property to be transferred during the deceased’s lifetime. 

This is just another example of a client not understanding the law and their options when they set up their Will. In my view, it’s not their fault. That’s my job – to help you understand what the Will is for. I always tell my clients that the Will only comes into effect on death, not when they sign it. Here at Marshall Hall Levy we will spend enough time with you to obtain contact details from you, ask you who you wish to appoint as your Executors and who you want to leave your estate to. We will ensure that we understand your circumstances, what you want to achieve and provide you with advice on how best to achieve it.

If you wish to transfer your property to your children now, that is achievable, and I can advise and help you with that. Just because you sign a Will to leave a gift to your children, doesn’t mean your children now own or part own the property. Your Will only takes effect on death. 

If you want to make a Will and or transfer property to your loved ones now, or discuss other options, please arrange an appointment with Julie Atkinson-McGregor. I will not just give you a legal document, I will give you advice on the best way to achieve your wishes in a way that you understand. 

Please call 0191 455 3181 or make an enquiry here >>