During the lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus, there was a surge in demand for people wanting to write wills, but one of the challenges during this period was having them witnessed by appropriate people.

Some people sought help with will writing in Cheltenham and elsewhere in the UK, and as we pointed out last month, there were a number of challenges for all of us to overcome.

While some people decided to write their own DIY wills, there are a number of common mistakes often made in these instances. These include failing to have a will properly signed and witnessed, as well as failing to consider and account for all property, assets and money.

For over 200 years, wills in the UK have been legally required to have at least two witnesses, neither of whom can be a beneficiary of the will.

But the Sun recently reported that the government will be introducing new legislation in September that means it’s legal to witness wills virtually via a video call. That means wills signed in the presence of witnesses who are there via the likes of Zoom or FaceTime will be made legal later this year in England and Wales.

What’s more, the newspaper noted that the reforms will be backdated to 31 January 2020 to take into account the many people who struggled to have their wills witnessed in person during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The government has also revealed that these measures will remain in place until 2022, although it has the right to shorten or extend them if it feels it is necessary.

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted for many people the need to be prepared for if the worst should happen. Few people have been left unaffected by COVID-19, directly or indirectly, and it has led to many questioning their mortality, and what would happen to their estate after they’ve gone.

It’s, therefore, a surprise to no one that demands for will writing services have boomed as people realise there’s no time like the present to get their affairs and estate in order.

Writing a Will During Lockdown

The main issue at the moment is that solicitors, much like most people, are also in lockdown, but they are finding ways in which they can help draw up wills for people at home.

There is no actual or legal need for a will to be drawn up by a solicitor, but it is most strongly urged to do so to make sure that the will is legally sound, free of errors and spelling mistakes, and will not mean your family hands over large amounts of money to solve disputes over your estate.

The vast majority of people have little experience if any at all in how to draw up a will, and it is easy to make simple mistakes that can lead to issues after you have gone, and it is too late to correct them. If the wording isn’t explicit and left open to interpretation, it will likely lead to misunderstandings and disputes.

Some of the most common mistakes made on DIY wills include:

• Failing to have the will properly signed and witnessed.
• Failing to correctly deal with any last-minute amendments or errors on the will before signing.
• Failing to take into account the possibility of a beneficiary or executor may die before the person making the will.
• Failing to take into account all money, property or assets.
• Failing to understand the effect of marriage, divorce or dissolution on a will.

Make sure your estate is in order, and get in touch for will writing in Cheltenham.