SHOULD A SOLICITOR DRAW UP THE WILL?

You do not have to use a solicitor, but a good case can be made for getting professional advice when drawing up your will to make sure that it is clear and reflects your true intentions. It is not expensive to engage the services of a solicitor or professional willwriter (think in terms of between £50 and £100 for a relatively straightforward will) and will offer you peace of mind.

The Law Society (of England and Wales, of Scotland or of Northern Ireland) can provide you with details of solicitors in your area, or you can look in Yellow Pages. The Institute of Professional Willmakers can supply you with a list of its members in your locality.

Before you visit your solicitor or will-maker, you ought to put down in writing what your assets are, how you wish them to be distributed and the full names of the beneficiaries. A good solicitor will be able to remove any ambiguities in the wording as well as recommend modifications to minimise liability to inheritance tax (currently 40 per cent once the threshold is exceeded). He can also deal with the creation of a trust for any beneficiaries who may not yet have reached their majority, to protect the family fortune, to ensure a beneficiary is looked after.

Generally speaking, the greater the value of your assets, the more you have to lose if the will is not precisely worded.