Making a Will and things to remember
Making a will and keeping it up to date is the only way to ensure your wishes are followed and taken care of in the future. It’s a simple process and doesn’t need to be expensive.
We recommend getting professional advice from a solicitor, this is the best way to avoid complications and additional costs further down the road. This way you can ensure that your will is written correctly and clearly represents your wishes.
Keep it safe
Once you’ve written your will, make sure you keep the original in a safe place such as your solicitor’s office or bank. It’s a good idea to make a few copies, one for you to keep and one for each of your executor(s).
The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum cannot hold original copies of wills.
Keep it up to date
It’s important to update your will as your life circumstances change. It is recommended to update your will after any big changes such as moving house, getting married or having new additions to your family.
You should review your will every few years.
Making additions to your will
You can make changes to your will at any time. If you’re thinking about leaving a gift to the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, it’s easy to make a simple addition. Ask your professional advisor about making these changes, you’ll likely need a simple legal document known as a codicil.
Preparation is key
Before you meet with your professional advisor for the first time, make sure you have the information to hand that your solicitor is likely to need – they should advise you on this. This will likely include:
It might also be a good idea to start a discussion with your partner, family or friends to help them understand and carry out your wishes. This might also help you to choose your executor(s) – people who you trust to carry out the instructions of your will, this could be a relative, close friend or a solicitor. You should ask for their permission, being an executor is a serious obligation, they have a legal authority and responsibility to administer your estate. You can have up to four executors, however most people tend to have one or two.
