A will is a legal document that sets out who inherits your property and possessions, referred to as your estate after you die.
Making a will is no different for people with diabetes.
You can ensure that the people you care about are taken care of and the causes you feel strongly about are remebered.
There are no special arrangements for will writing for people with diabetes although as risks of conditions such as heart disease are generally higher for people with diabetes, having a will prepared earlier on in life may help make things easier on your family should the worst happen.
Why should I make a Will?
A will helps to ensure your property, equity and possessions are passed on to the people or organisations you’d like them to go to.
Making a will or reviewing your existing will can be a simple and inexpensive process. Make a FREE, no-obligation will making enquiry and speak to a specialist will advisor who can discuss your will requirements and circumstances.
Making a will helps to make for an easier process of distributing your wealth and belongings and can avoid distress or uncertainty to family members.
What happens if I don’t make a Will?
If you don’t make a will, your estate will be divided according to the laws of intestacy and it can become a complicated affair for your surviving family. The legal term used for dying without having made a will is having died ‘intestate’.
In the case that you have no surviving relatives, your estate would go to the Crown, in other words to the state coffers.
Can I write my own Will or does a solicitor have to?
You can write your own Will. There are certain conditions that need to be met for it to be legally valid. A number of Will writing guidance packs are available.
Formalities of a Will include that it must be a written document, it must be signed by the Testator (person in whose name the Will is made) and two witnesses must be present and for the signing of the Will by the testator and themselves sign the Will to confirm this.
Unless you have simple affairs, it is generally recommended to seek expert help.
Who is responsible for making the arrangements in the Will?
In your Will, you can state one or more people to be Executors of your Will. This could be a trusted member of your family or could be your solicitor.
If a Will has not been made then someone will need to act as Administrator.
Probate: the process of administering the Will
The process of carrying out the arrangements in the Will is termed probate. The Executors named in the Will (or Administrators if no Will is left) will need to apply for authority to administer the Will.
To apply, the Executors or Administrators will need to apply to the UK Probate Service to obtain a Grant of Representation.
Making a Will and funeral arrangements
It is a good idea to include details of how you’d like your funeral to be arranged within your Will. Putting the arrangements in your Will will help your family ensure your wishes are met. You may wish to stipulate in your will money to be set aside for your funeral.
It’s common to include details of whether you wish to be cremated or buried, where your body is laid to rest, which hymns/music you would like to be played at your funeral and any special arrangements you wish to specify.
Reducing inheritance tax through a Will
One of the key advantages of drawing up a Will is that you can plan how you want to divide up your estate in such a way to reduce the amount of inheritance tax you may otherwise be liable for.
Inheritance tax implications can sometimes be quite complicated and you may wish to seek financial advice to help you best distribute your wealth.
Giving a gift to charity
A popular choice is to bequest money to a charitable cause. There are a number of diabetes charities you may choose to give money to as a legacy.
