Making a will

People make wills for several reasons:

1. To direct various events after their death, including funeral arrangements, interment, cremation etcetera.
2. To direct the distribution of their estate. In theory, your rights to leave property to whomever you wish are unfettered, but in practice dependents can make claims against your estate if they are not provided for.
3. To ensure children are cared for.
4. To provide bequests to various friends, charities and worthy causes.
5. To ensure that friends and colleagues are aware of their death, and that they were remembered.
6. To make it as easy as possible for relatives to finalize their estates and to minimize the emotional impact following their departure.

Legli’s knowledge base helps you understand what happens if you die without a will, it provides templates to help you make a will yourself, and helps you identify lawyers near you who can help you to make a will.

Our philosophy is one of ‘self-service + assistance’. If you make a will yourself, using legli, and then seek advice from a lawyer, there are some important benefits:

1. By reading your proposed will, the lawyer can quickly understand what you want, and can advise you as to whether your will achieves this.
2. The lawyer can ensure that your will is properly executed and witnessed. For example, if an adult child who is a beneficiary witnesses a will, they will not be able to inherit under that will. Thus, your intention will accidentally be thwarted.
3. A lawyer will usually keep your will in ‘safe custody’ so that there is an unblemished copy available after your departure. This can be important and avoids the risk and expense of lost or damaged wills.
4. The lawyer ought to make a file note that you are of sound mind when making the will. He or she can also advice as to whether a doctor’s assessment of you should also be kept with the will. This too may avoid significant expense later, because your family will be less likely to contest your intentions.
5. Your lawyer can advise you on whether a lawyer will be required as an executor or to advise the executors. This needs to be carefully considered: you don’t want a lawyer to be able to charge excessive fees for probate, but neither do you wish your family to have the problem of deciding whether they need a lawyer and, if so, who should they use.
6. If your lawyer retains the only copy of your will, your family will not accidentally discover your will if you become ill or move to a nursing home. This can prevent your family from pressing you to change a will in their favour.
7. Costs of making a will are reduced because you have thought through many issues before seeking advice.