Checklist For Drafting A Will

What information will you need?
Whether you choose to seek the specialist help of a solicitor in drafting your Will, or decide to have a go at drawing up your own, you’ll need to gather together certain information.

Below is a checklist of the things you’ll need:

1. Information about You

(a) Your full name
(b) Any former name(s) or alias(es)
(c) Address
(d) Age (for purposes of tax and investment advice)
(e) Married/co-habiting/civil partner?
(f) Children/Step children?

2. Value Of Your Property

To establish this, you’ll need details of the following;

(a) Any property owned in your sole name, including;

(i) House
(ii) Bank Accounts
(iii) Building Society Accounts
(iv) Saving Certificates
(v) Shares
(vi) Car
(vii) Other Property

(b) Details of any house owned with another in joint names.

(c) Details of bank/building society accounts or other property owned with another in joint names.

(d) Superannuation benefits – and whether they are nominated.

(e) Details of insurance policies – including whether or not you have instructed the Insurance Company to benefit a particular person on your death.

(f) Trust property

(g) Foreign property

(h) Property likely to be inherited

(i) Whether you have made any substantial gifts within the last seven years? (this information is needed for Inheritance Tax purposes)

(j) Whether your property mortgaged and whether you have any other substantial debts.

(k) Business/ Agricultural property

3. Names of intended Beneficiaries

(a) Spouse - full name
(b) Children - names and ages
(c) Others - names/addresses

4. Details of any gifts you want to make

(a) Personal belongings - do you want to give any special items to named beneficiaries?
(b) Legacies - do you want to make gifts of cash to friends or charities?
(c) Who is to receive the rest of your property?

5. Names of Executors/Trustees