Photo Credit

If You Lose A Will

However how hard we prepare ourselves for those unexpected things life throws at us, many of us are not prepared for death – whether that of ourselves or our loved ones. If you are experiencing the untimely and unexpected death of a loved one then, aside from grieving, there are many things that need to be dealt with. If you are unsure of the next steps, and if there is a will in place then here is some advice to help you get started.

Finding the will

A will is a legal document that has to be signed and witnessed by two people, so if you are convinced that one is in existence, then talk to those that witnessed and signed the will in the first place. If the deceased person had a solicitor, then they would be your first port of call. If you are unsure of the solicitor in question, then check out your local Law Society who could inform you of all legal practitioners in your area. Also the Solicitors Regulation Authority can help if there are law practices that have gone out of business.

If there was a specific will writer, then there are the two regulated bodies that can help you with your search – The Society of Will Writers and the Institute of Professional Will Writers. If you need assistance with this process, or to find out how to contest a will, then contact your own solicitor immediately.

If there is no will

If it turns out that there isn’t a will, then the deceased’s next of kin – spouse/civil partner or children need to apply for a grant of representation, which gives them the legal right to deal with the person’s estate. The rules of intestacy will stipulate who will benefit from the deceased’s estate, and what they are likely to receive.

Every situation is different, so it is always best to contact a solicitor as soon as possible – they can advise you on the best course of action. If there are problems with a will or the deceased had been living in another country, then click here for advice when moving abroad.

This post is provided by McCarthy & Stone

The post What To Do If You Lose A Will appeared first on The Naptime Review.