Preparing Wills on Your Own or with a Lawyer

Having a lawyer prepare your wills on your behalf is always a smart idea. However, there may be some instances when you have to write it on your own. The nice thing about wills is that they don’t have to be peppered with legal jargon. They just have to be simple and clear to all concerned.

Source:www.ae-law.co.uk

But when writing your wills, there are some formal prerequisites that you need to keep in mind:

• It must be in writing, either typed or hand-written
• Your signature must be affixed at the bottom of the every page
• You must have witnesses sign together. Take note, however, that witnesses cannot be the beneficiaries.

Writing your wills on your own

You can use any of the wills writing kits available on the market, but remember that they may not be specific to your requirements.

If you do decide to write your own will, it may be a good idea to have a lawyer check it for you to ensure that whatever you intended in writing will be carried out. Remember that the will is one of the most important documents you will ever write in your entire life.

Getting the help of a lawyer

Most family lawyers can write wills on their clients behalf, and also offer estate planning services. It may be a good idea to hire a lawyer who specialises in wills and estate planning for the following reasons:

• There may be a significant number of people concerned in your will
• Children and children with disability are included in special considerations
• You have joint assets with other people
• You have a family-run business
• You have assets outside the state or abroad
• You want to have your beneficiary protected against other circumstances such as divorce
• You earn income from a trust or family-owned company
• You want someone to be removed from the will
• You are concerned about the amount of taxes you may have to pay on your assets

Where wills should be kept

Protect your will from the prying eyes of individuals with ill intentions. Keep it somewhere safe. If the lawyer is the one preparing it for you, request to have them keep it at their office. Remember to ask for a copy.

Keeping it in a safety deposit box in a bank is also a good option.

For more information on wills and estate planning in Sydney, visit CM Lawyers at or call 02 9568 6266 today. Look for Christine Manolakos