Your checklist for making a Will

To make the process of writing or updating your Will as simple as possible, we’ve written a handy checklist to help you with your preparation.

1. Choose your service or solicitor that's right for you. 

You can find a solicitor at the Law Society website (solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk), or you can use a Free Wills service. The National Free Wills Network is a more traditional service that involves meeting with or phoning a solicitor, while Bequeathed allows you to make your Will online at a pace that suits you. We work in partnership with both these organisations.

2. Decide who will look after your dependants.

If you have children under the age of 18, you'll need to make provisions for them. This includes naming a legal guardian who will be legally responsible for them after your death. You can also decide who will look after your pets.

3. Work out your estate value. 

You can leave everything to one person, such as your spouse or partner, but you should consider who will inherit your estate if they die before you. Alternatively, you can leave gifts or cash to other people or organisations.

4. Chose who you'd like to provide for.

Specify who and what you'd like your loved ones to receive. It's not always possible to distribute your assets equally. You could ask them if there's anything they'd like you to leave them.

5. Consider a gift to charity.

Once your loved ones have been taken care of you may wish to remember your favourite charities in your Will, either with a cash gift or percentage of your assets. We would be enormously grateful if you would consider leaving a gift to Blind Veterans UK.

6. Record other wishes.

Many people record their wishes for their funeral, such as organising a collection in support of their chosen charity in lieu of flowers. 

7. Appoint executors. 

It's important to select people you trust to deal with your estate and related affairs. These can be legal professionals, relatives or friends. It's a good idea to discuss this with them in advance. 

8. Make sure your Will is valid. 

You must sign and date your Will, along with two witnesses. Your witnesses cannot be related to you or named as beneficiaries or executors.

9. Consider where you will store your Will. 

When you have made your Will, make sure someone you trust knows where to find it. 

10. Keep your Will up to date.

It's a good idea to revisit and update your Will every few years to make sure it reflects any changes in your life.