Protect your loved ones by writing a will

Nobody likes to think about their own death. In fact, research suggests almost 80% of people haven’t made a will in Northern Ireland — a figure much higher than in other parts of the UK.

While it is something we might prefer to push out of our minds, making a will is vital to protect your family. Writing a will not only ensures your wishes are followed, but also often enables your loved ones to save money after your passing. It reduces the risk of bitter will disputes that tear many families apart, too.

For all of those reasons, it’s important to overcome any fears, discomfort or sense of morbidity to set out your wishes in a formal legal document.

Discuss writing a will

Why making a will is important

Making a will is essential for protecting your family’s interests when you’re not around to look after them any more. On paper, a will is a relatively simple and inexpensive legal document. Yet it could prove priceless to your family.

A will sets exactly who you want to inherit your estate — no matter its size — after your death. This means:

• Deciding who gets your property and belongings
• Managing who inherits particular family heirlooms
• Making sure your family doesn’t have to pay more Inheritance Tax than necessary
• Settling matters that could otherwise lead to will disputes

If you die without writing a will, the law will decide who should get what. This could lead to someone you want to provide for missing out, your assets going to somebody you didn’t intend to get them, and complicated legal cases to settle any disputes that arise.

Why choose H McPartland & Sons when making a will?

We’ve been supporting people wanting to make a will in Lisburn and Lurgan for decades. Since 1949, we’ve helped our local communities — and often multiple generations of the same families — to set out their wishes and protect their children and grandchildren’s futures.

All that know-how makes us among the most experienced will-writing solicitors in Northern Ireland. But it’s not just about legal expertise. It’s also about the insights we’ve gained into so many family interactions over those years. We’ve seen the measures that best support smooth distribution of assets — and those that are most likely to lead to will disputes.

We’re happy to share our experience of how to write a will that supports the people and causes that matter most to you. Visit us at our offices in Lurgan or Lisburn to talk everything through with our solicitors. Both offices have car parking. You’re also welcome to book a home visit or phone consultation, if either of those options is easier for you.

How to make a will in Northern Ireland

The process of making a will in Northern Ireland is simple and straightforward. Our will-writing solicitors are on hand to guide you through the process and advise you on anything you might have forgotten or overlooked.

1. Get free will writing advice

We offer a free consultation before making a will. Talk to our will-writing solicitors to get initial advice and make sure you’re happy for us to write your will. There’s absolutely no obligation to proceed with writing a will.

2. Decide what to include in your will

The next step is to consider everything you want to be in your will. You’ll probably already have given this some thought, but you’re welcome to talk everything through with our experienced solicitors. Some of the key things to think about could include:

• • How much money do you have?
  • What property and belongings do you have?
  • Who should benefit from your will?
  • If you have children aged under 18, who should look after them?
  • Who will be in charge of carrying out your wishes after your death?

3. Talk to your executor

The executor is the person you want to be responsible for carrying out your wishes after your death. They will make sure your estate is passed on in accordance with your will and that your wishes are followed.

You can appoint an executor by naming them in your will. If you don’t or choose not to, the courts will appoint an executor after your death.

If there’s somebody you would like to be your executor, it’s a good idea to talk to them at this stage and make sure they don’t mind taking on that responsibility.

4. Expert advice on your will

With a broad outline of your wishes agreed, we will share expert legal advice on the best way of achieving what you want, and protecting your loved ones. We always recommend talking to an accountant at this stage for advice on how to reduce the tax burden on your family after your death.

5. Writing your will

At this stage, our will-writing solicitors will draft your will for you. This will set out everything you’ve told us about your wishes in a legal document. We’ll share this with you, make sure you understand what everything means, and check that everything is as you want it to be.

In some circumstances, you may need a letter from your doctor to confirm you have the mental capacity to make a will.

6. Signing and witnessing your will

To make a valid will in Northern Ireland, the document must be signed and witnessed in accordance with legal requirements. Our solicitors will help you ensure this process is carried out correctly to avoid any questions about the validity of your will at a later stage.

7. Keeping your will safe

It’s important that your will is stored safely and can be easily found after your death. Normally, we will keep the original will safe on your behalf and share a copy with you. But you’re welcome to keep the original if you prefer.

In either case, it’s important to tell your executor or someone you trust where the will is. This makes it easier to ensure your wishes are followed after your death.

8. Review your will regularly

People and circumstances change over time. We recommend reviewing your will at least once every five years. This will give you an opportunity to remind yourself what is in your will and make sure that it’s still in line with what you want to happen after your death.

If it’s not, our will-writing solicitors will help you to update your will so that it reflects your wishes.