Articles

It is not unusual for me to be asked: “I wrote my Will a few years ago, how often should I review it?”. I advise my clients to review their Wills regularly to ensure they are still suitable. I would certainly advise that you review your Will carefully before and/or after significant events in your life, as such events could mean your Will requires updating. The

There is literally no more important reason to write a Will, than to secure a young child’s upbringing with your chosen, trusted guardians. So it is worrying that, according to a report by Legal & General in 2021, only 39% of people aged 25-34 (those most likely to have children under 18) have written a Will. “Who would look after your children if they were left

I recently met a couple in Lancaster to write their Wills. They are a ‘blended family’ (children from previous relationships) and have various business interests, so it’s not a simple case. After 90 minutes of thrashing out ideas to achieve their goals, we agreed their instructions. As I was about to leave, the husband asked me (stressing that he wasn’t re-considering using me!) “What do you

That’s a question I have been asked zero times… yet. But I’m sure it’s coming. From what I can tell from trying ChatGPT out, the short answer is “Yes”, it can write your Will. The longer answer is “Yes, but that Will may not be suitable for what you need.” The answer ChatGPT gives you is only ever as good as the question you ask. For

Most of us have heard of Wills and see the value of them (even if we don’t all write one), because we are all going to die. But we won’t all lose mental capacity (for whatever reason) during our lives. So why might Lasting Powers of Attorney be an even *more* important part of your life planning, than a Will? If someone dies without a Will,

The Times recently reported statistics from Private Client Solicitors, showing that the number of disputes over Wills leading to court cases has risen by more than a third since 2017 and more than doubled over the past decade. Many more cases will never reach the courts as they are resolved by mediation. Although some cases will be speculative, many will be genuine, for example cases brought