Wills warning

People who produce a home made Will could cause their families to suffer unnecessary distress and legal costs when they die.

Around two thirds of people die without making a Will but increasingly people are choosing to get round this by producing a home made Will using forms downloaded from the internet or bought from local shops. Claire McCraith, Wills and Probate executive at Harrison Drury, says: “Up to 90 per cent of people who contest a Will do so because it is home made.

Whilst home made Wills may save people time and money in the short-term, they have the potential to be disastrous in the long run. People may omit important details or write sections in a way which could be misinterpreted. Families can be caused a lot of distress by home made Wills because if the wording isn’t precise an estate can’t be easily administered meaning the legal costs will be much higher than if the Will had been drawn up with a Solicitor in the first place.

Home made Wills may seem good value for money, but the only way to guarantee your wishes are granted, following your death, is to draft a Will with a professional’s help.”

For more advice on issues surrounding Wills, please contact Harrison Drury lawyers in Garstang, Lancaster, Preston or Kendal. Our team will listen carefully to any questions and outline appropriate solutions tailored to your needs.