The Smartest Step You Can Take for Your Future

Making a Will is one of the kindest and most practical things you can do for the people you love, says Sara Edge of Sara Edge Solicitors.

Some people think making a Will is morbid or unlucky, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Anyone over 18 with assets should have one, whether it’s a home, savings or simply to record your wishes. It ensures your intentions are clear and your loved ones are protected.

You’ll need two people over 18 to act as Executors, or Trustees if you’re leaving gifts to children under 18. It’s best to appoint two in case one becomes unable to act.

Why Making a Will Matters

Most Wills take up half an A4 page and do not need to be overly complicated or cause you any anguish.

A good high street Solicitor will be able to help you draft your Will and take the stress and pressure away.

As with all things in life, do not be tempted to use an internet template or AI as there are specific rules in Northern Ireland that can affect the validity of a Will.

Most Solicitors will charge you a fee somewhere in the region of a few hundred pounds, which is money well spent for peace of mind for your important decisions relating to your future.

Choosing the Right Executors

There are some myths in Northern Ireland that can confuse people when they are thinking about making a Will.

Your nominated Executors can be the same people you wish to benefit. Your Will cannot be witnessed in the presence of people you wish to leave gifts or money to.

There must be two independent witnesses to ensure your Will is valid.

Ask your Solicitor if they take part in Make a Will Month, which normally takes place in October each year. This is an initiative where certain charities team up with a firm of Solicitors who will waive their professional fee in lieu of a donation made to the nominated charity.

If you are employed and have a private pension scheme, always check if you have nominated a ‘pension nominee’ or sometimes referred to as a ‘death beneficiary’.

All pension providers differ but they can be a very valuable asset with added benefits for your family and loved ones that you wish to make provision for.

Updating Your Will

The easiest way to update your Will is to make a new one. Don’t worry if the old version is lost or misplaced — your Solicitor can quickly prepare a replacement and, if needed, request a copy from your previous firm.

Most solicitors store original documents securely, giving you peace of mind that your wishes are safely filed.

It is also advisable if you are making a Will for the first time or if you are updating a previous Will to discuss signing a Enduring Power of Attorney form.

This can sound scary and even complex, but in fact it isn’t!

Understanding Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)

Simply put, your last Will and Testament speaks at the time of death, whereas an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA for short) allows you to nominate those you trust to manage your affairs in life should you lose mental capacity and become unable to manage these yourself.

Again, traditionally this is only in certain tragic cases of elderly relatives or people diagnosed with dementia or failing health.

Some generations may not have heard of making an EPA. Within my practice we see the benefit of signing an EPA at the same time as making your Will.

We live in a different world now whereby sadly any unforeseen events can happen that may mean you lose mental capacity, such as a tragic accident, a routine operation that doesn’t go to plan.

An EPA form is simple and straightforward to complete, again your Solicitor will do this for you.

If you have a trusted person or group whom you would nominate to manage your financial decisions should anything happen that would mean you lose mental capacity, you can include specific references and clauses to reflect the circumstances that we find ourselves in the future.

You should consider that the only medical professional can determine if you have lost mental capacity to manage your own financial affairs.

Why Seek Professional Advice

Within our practice we offer specialist advice and practical experience to cater to our client’s specific needs.

If you are a married couple, we often draft two Wills and we offer a package price for those making a Will and signing an EPA form.

If you take anything away from this article, do not delay in making a Will, once it is done, you can put it away and forget about it and have peace that your plans and wishes for the future have been taken care of.

Sara Edge Solicitors has two offices, in Larne and Ballymena, however they assist clients all over NI.

Call today to discuss your Will on 028 2827 7550 or 028 2565 2634.

Talk to us about telephone or Zoom consultations. We offer home visits for clients with any mobility needs.

📍 Sara Edge Solicitors
Larne Office: 13 Agnew Street, Larne, Antrim, BT40 1RF
Ballymena Office: 4 Ballymoney Road, Ballymena, Antrim, BT43 5BY
📞 Tel: 028 2827 7550 / 028 2565 2634
📧 Email: info@edgesolicitors.com
🌐 www.edgesolicitors.com