Walker Laird are Open and Here to Help

With the re-opening of our Estate Agency this past Monday it feels like things are finally beginning to return to normal.

When the Scottish Government announced the lockdown back in March, I, naively like many others, thought that we would back to normality in a matter of weeks. Things haven’t quite worked out like that. Sadly, thousands of Scots and hundreds of thousands of people around the world have passed away as a result of this silent yet deadly virus. We are now all adjusting to a new type of normal.

Lockdown gave us all time to reflect. During lockdown I listed a number of things I had been putting off for a while. The list did include glamorous things like cleaning out the hall cupboard! That reminds me I probably should get round to that…! However, I had also been putting off getting a will for some time.  Maybe the sudden appreciation of my own mortality or the many people sadly passing away brought this into immediate focus.

After contacting my colleague Ross McGinlay he explained the importance of having a will in place. He took care of the whole process so thankfully that is one thing I was able to tick off the list. The hall cupboard can wait! It’s a very straightforward process and if you don’t have a will I would give Ross a call.  Equally, if you are looking for a Power of Attorney to be put in place Ross can assist.

Lockdown was extremely difficult for everyone but affected people in different ways. In a previous blog, my colleague Anna Brown discussed how it was being reported that instances of domestic abuse had risen sharply in some EU countries as a result of lockdown. We have been consulted by a number of people in recent weeks in relation to difficulties they have had as a result of lockdown. Unfortunately this has varied from instances of domestic abuse to issues with obtaining contact to their children.

Our experienced family lawyers in Paisley, led by David Forbes, can also assist you with all family matters. Sadly, many couples are reporting that lockdown has caused further strains on their relationship. Our team are on hand to listen and provide pragmatic advice in respect of separation/divorce.

As we at Walker Laird, like everyone, try to navigate this “new normal” one thing that is unchanged is that we are here to help like we have been for over 200 years. Get in touch and we’d be happy to help.

Associate Solicitor

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.

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