Wills
Your Will, Made Simple
Most people know they should have a will.
The problem is that life gets busy. You buy a home, remortgage, have children, change jobs, separate, get married, or simply keep pushing it further down the list.
Carr Mitchell helps you finally get it sorted, with clear guidance from a real person.
What Is A Will?
A Will is a legal document that sets out what you would like to happen after you die.
It can cover things such as:
Who should receive your money, property and possessions
Who should deal with your estate
Who should look after your children if they are under 18, or under 16 in Scotland
Any specific wishes you would like recorded
How you can make things clearer and easier for the people you leave behind
A Will gives clarity. Without one, the law decides who inherits from your estate, and this may not reflect what you would have wanted.
Why A Will Matters
A will is not just for older people or people with large estates.
It matters if you own a home. It matters if you have children. It matters if you are unmarried or have separated. It matters if you simply want to make things easier for your family.
Many people assume everything will automatically pass to the right person. That is not always the case.
A Will helps make your wishes clear, so the people you care about know exactly what you wanted.
Common Situations Where A Will Is Important
You Are Buying a Home or Remortgaging
Buying a home or remortgaging is often the moment people start thinking about protection properly.
A Will helps make sure your wishes are clear if something happens to you, and that your home, family and assets are protected in the way you intend.
This can be especially important if you are not married, as your partner may not automatically inherit without the right planning in place.
You Have Children
If you have children under 18, or under 16 in Scotland, a Will allows you to name the people you would want to look after them if you were no longer here.
Without a Will, this may not be as clear. If there is no named guardian, the court may need to decide who looks after your children — and that decision may not reflect what you would have wanted.
You Are Unmarried
Unmarried partners do not have the same automatic inheritance rights as married couples or civil partners.
If one of you were to die without a Will, your estate would pass under the rules of intestacy. This could mean your partner receives nothing from your estate, regardless of how long you have been together or what you have shared.
A Will is the clearest way to make sure the person you have built your life with is properly protected.
You Are Married
Many married couples assume everything will automatically pass to their spouse. This is not always the case.
If you are married with children and die without a Will, your estate may be divided between your spouse and your children under the rules of intestacy. This could mean your spouse does not inherit everything you would have wanted them to.
In Scotland, the rules are different and can be more complex depending on your circumstances.
A Will gives you control over exactly what happens and removes uncertainty for the people you leave behind.
Your Circumstances Have Changed
Life changes, and your Will should reflect that.
Marriage, divorce, separation, having children, buying property or thinking about later life can all affect what you need — and what you had in place before may no longer be right.
Can I Write a Will Myself?
You can write a Will yourself, but many people prefer to have guidance to make sure everything is done properly.
A professionally prepared Will helps ensure nothing important is missed, your wishes are clearly recorded, and you have peace of mind that your Will has been prepared correctly.
How Often Should I Update My Will?
You should review your Will whenever your circumstances change.
Key life events — such as marriage, divorce, separation, the birth of a child, a bereavement, moving home or remortgaging — can all affect what you need to have in place.
It is also sensible to review your Will every few years, even if nothing major has changed, to make sure it still reflects your wishes.
FAQs
Yes. A Will is not just about how much money you have.
It is about making your wishes clear, choosing who should deal with your estate, naming guardians for your children where needed, and making things easier for the people you leave behind.
Even a simple Will can give your family clarity at a difficult time.
Your estate may not go where you expect, and it can create delays and uncertainty for your family.
The rules that apply are known as the rules of intestacy. These rules decide who inherits from your estate if you die without a valid Will, and they may not reflect what you would have wanted.
You can find out more on the GOV.UK intestacy checker.
A Will allows you to make your wishes clear and helps make things simpler for the people you leave behind.
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Talk With An Expert
Start with a free 15-minute call. We’ll help you understand your options, what information you’ll need, and what the process looks like.
We start with a short call to answer your questions. If you’re happy to proceed, we’ll arrange a convenient time to take your instructions and prepare your documents.