DIY wills 'may thwart intended objectives'
15 Feb 2010
Resorting to a DIY will-making kit could ruin the likelihood of a
person's estate going to their intended recipients when they
die.
This is the warning underlined this week by wills, trust and
probate adviser Dale Emch, who said he is concerned about the
number of people who seem to be turning to "fill-in-the-blanks"
kits such as those available at stationers' shops to record their
last will and testament.
In an article for the Toledo Blade, he said that while these packs
may be easy to come by, one simple error could render the whole
document inaccurate.
This could, in some circumstances, mean that a person is recorded
as having died intestate in the eyes of the law, even though they
believed that they had a valid will.
"It doesn't seem to make sense to take the chance that your wishes
won't be honoured," said Mr Emch, pointing out that fees for having
a will drawn up by professional lawyers are often surprisingly
low.
"Hiring a lawyer…will be worth the peace of mind of knowing your
estate will be handled in accordance with your wishes," he
concluded.
Earlier this month, legal experts urged Britons to make sure they
use the services of an accredited professional when making a video
will after Remember a Charity discovered that 63 per cent of
respondents would be interested in putting their last will and
testament onto film.
Meanwhile, according to Unbiased.co.uk, 30 per cent of people have
had trouble collecting their inheritance due to problems with the
deceased's will.
