Guides Wills

Writing or updating your will

The Year In Wills Report 2020: How COVID-19 made us all face our mortality

Last year saw a huge rise in people writing wills from home. After checking tens of thousands of wills last year, we can now reveal the biggest trends of 2020. And you can also download our full report for tips on making your will.

What happens to debt when someone dies?

When someone dies with outstanding debt, it needs to be repaid from the estate before beneficiaries can get their inheritance. If there isn't enough money in the estate to pay it off, the debt is simply written off.

How to find a will

You can usually find someone’s will with other important financial documents, such as bank statements and pension information. If you can’t find it in their house, you could search online to see if the will is recorded on the National Will Register.

The duties of an executor: executor of will checklist

An executor of a will is responsible for dealing with the estate of the person who died. This includes valuing the estate, selling property, closing accounts, paying off debts and distributing assets to the beneficiaries named in the will.

How to get your will witnessed when you're self-isolating

If you’re self-isolating due to the coronavirus lockdown, you may be wondering how to get your will witnessed and signed. Here are a few steps you can take to keep yourself and your loved ones protected.

How to make your will ‘legally binding’

Your will is the best place to set out what you want to happen to you, your loved ones and your money when you die. Here, our Head of Legal, Lorraine Robinson, explains exactly how to make sure your wishes are legally binding.

5 festive reasons you should write your will this Christmas

Writing a will for your family can actually be most important gift of all, because it’s a gift for all the Christmases to come. Here are 5 festive reasons you should write your will this Christmas.

Is a will a public document?

This guide explains when your will can become public, and what to do if you want to keep some of your wishes private.

Everything you need to know before writing a will

Thinking about making your will but not sure where to start? Here's everything you need to know before writing a will.

How to appoint a legal guardian in your will

If you have children under 18, you need to write a will and appoint legal guardians to protect their future. Here’s everything you need to know about guardians, their responsibilities and how to choose them.

What happens to pets when their owners die?

Writing a will lets you do more than appoint guardians for your children, you can also choose who looks after your pets if something happens to you. Here's everything you need to know to make sure your pets are provided for when you’re gone.

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