This is a question that clients can sometimes worry about. We appreciate clients build up long-standing relationships with their legal advisors and the law firm. However, over time if their legal advisors retire or you move house you may prefer to instruct someone more local and you are free to change solicitors. Although, now more than ever, it is easy to have a remote appointment via telephone or video conference with your solicitor to discuss any changes you wish to make to your Will.
Making a new Will or amending an existing Will is not uncommon
A Will is a document that should be reviewed over time as your circumstances in life change. This is to make sure that the wishes set out in your Will are what you want to happen to your estate when you pass away.
When you make a new Will you can revoke a previous Will
This means your old Will becomes void and should be destroyed to avoid any confusion when the time comes.
Once a Will is drawn up you might agree that your Solicitor stores the original for you. If this is the case with your previous Will and you are making a new Will with a different Solicitor, then you should contact your previous Solicitor and ask them to destroy your previous Will once you have signed your new one.
You should obtain legal advice when making your Will because your Will is a very important document that sets out what happens to your estate when you pass away. If you die without a Will then your estate will pass in accordance with certain rules. These rules are called the Intestacy Rules. If your estate were to pass in accordance with these rules it could mean that your estate is distributed to beneficiaries that you would not wish to benefit, such as a spouse or civil partner from whom you have separated but not legally divorced.
If you would like to make a Will or updating an existing Will please contact a member of our Wills, Life Planning, and Probate team – call 0845 543 5700 or contact us via our online enquiry form to arrange an appointment.