The Government imposed lockdown has forced the likes of shops, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers to close resulting in many people coming up with makeshift ways to recreate professional services at home. Most notably has been the rise of “DIY” haircuts with people letting family members trim their locks, purchasing hair cutters online or even using the kitchen scissors to achieve, in some cases, rather questionable results. And that’s without even starting to explore the range of colours that some people have been experimenting with when attending a workplace and socialising have been taken out of the equation.
The lockdown has highlighted why most people pay a professional for these services instead of attempting it themselves.
The lockdown has also given people the opportunity to deal with life administration and one cost-saving measure which people may be considering is to create a DIY Will from the comfort of their own home. While it may seem savvy to save money using a Will writing service or an off-the-shelf DIY Will there are many risks involved in doing so which could have disastrous ramifications for family and loved ones at a distressing enough time.
Risk of your Will being invalid
The requirements for a validly signed and self-proving Will in Scotland and England are different. Many of the DIY Wills are based on English signing requirements and do not highlight the differences between Scots and English law. If a Will is not correctly executed in Scotland, it is necessary to apply to the court to have the Will set up. In the current situation this is causing delay to the administration of an estate and adding unnecessary complications for family members.
One size does NOT fit all
The family unit is no longer the stereotypical Kellogg’s box family. Modern families often include children from previous relationships or step-children and it is important that your Will is tailored to meet your requirements. In the same way that one haircut will not suit everyone, a template Will is not suitable for everyone’s situation.
If you don’t want to leave your loved ones with premature grey hairs after you have gone, it is best to use a solicitor to write your Will to ensure your wishes are adequately catered for. It’s important to ensure that the correct terminology is used to safeguard the people you wish to inherit your estate. The costs of correcting any errors in a DIY Will in the future certainly outweigh the cost of using a solicitor to prepare your Will now.
Whilst our offices may be temporarily closed, we are working from home and are very happy to meet and chat with you via video call. If you would like to discuss putting a Will in place, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our Private Client team.
