Can I make a will during the Coronavirus lockdown?

Peace of mind. More than ever, in this uncertain Covid climate, we could all do with some.

Most of my clients that make a Will tell me it’s something they have been planning to do for ages. After signing, many clients tell me it’s a relief, that it was much easier than they anticipated, a much simpler process than they feared…..and ultimately, now that it’s done, it’s one less thing to worry about!

There are many good reasons for making a Will:

1. Confirming who you want to inherit your estate……and who you don’t !
2. Appoint an executor – the person(s) who will take responsibility for the process upon your death.
3. If you have young children you can state your wishes as to how they should be cared for.
4. Funeral instructions.
5. Who is to receive personal items of sentimental value.
6. Expense – if you don’t have a Will, the legal cost to wind up an estate will often be more expensive and time consuming.

Making a Will, with the right advisor, should be a straightforward process for most people. It can often be carried out across just two meetings….one to take instructions, a second to sign. The current climate means we have to adapt how we carry out the process but it hasn’t led to the process becoming more complex or time consuming. We can still provide the same quality of service in a way that suits your needs and more importantly we can finalise your Wills within the usual timescales.

Making a Will is a 3 step process:

1. MEETING We can take your instructions by arranging a ‘telephone meeting’ with you.
2. DRAFTING We will then draft the Wills which we can send to you by email or post for your approval.
3. SIGNING Lastly, we will arrange for the Wills to be signed in one of the following ways:

1. Door step appointment – We would attend your home and sign the documents on your doorstep while keeping a safe distance at all times.
2. Video call – we can arrange a video call with you by FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom or Skype to allow us to witness you signing the documents.
3. Arrange your own witness – we can post or email the documents to you for signing to allow you to arrange your own witness (perhaps a neighbour or friend) to act as witness using the door step appointment method referred to above.

After signing, we will be happy to store the signed documents securely within our office. We do not charge a storage fee.

Get in touch

We don’t charge a fee to chat. You will not be charged a fee unless you instruct us to proceed with drafting the documents following the telephone meeting. So don’t hesitate to contact us if you have a Will related query, we’ll be happy to talk through any questions you might have. And if we manage to offer you just a wee bit of peace of mind in this difficult climate we’ll be very happy to have helped.

Ross Mcginlay is a partner of Walker Laird and heads up our Future Planning team. You can contact Ross now by calling 0141 886 5678 or by completing our online enquiry form.