COLUMN: The importance of making a will

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On Friday, as part of a busy day of constituency engagements, I visited Rollos Solicitors in Glenrothes to meet the team and congratulate them on their participation in November’s Will Aid campaign. Every November, Will Aid sees solicitors from around the UK volunteer their time and expertise to write basic wills. Instead of paying the usual fees, clients can donate to Will Aid’s nine partner charities. In 2023, Rollos raised £15,657, making it the highest donating firm in Scotland. Since they joined the campaign in 1996, Rollos have raised over £156,000 in total.  

During my appointment with a solicitor to have my own will drawn up, we discussed the importance of having a will in place.  A survey in 2023 found that 64% of Scottish adults do not have a will, including over a third of over 55s. When someone dies without a will, this can create a difficult and complicated process for grieving loved ones, especially if the deceased did not make any arrangements for their estate. The Law Society of Scotland advise that it is particularly important that people who own property leave instructions for after their death. If you’re not married or in a civil partnership, your partner won’t automatically inherit your estate without a will, even if you live together or have been together for a long time. As such, it’s important to have a will to make sure your wishes can be carried out after your death.

“A survey in 2023 found that 64% of Scottish adults do not have a will, including over a third of over 55s. When someone dies without a will, this can create a difficult and complicated process for grieving loved ones.”

Polling from Canada Life insurers, 2023

By putting a will in place, you can state exactly what should happen to everything you own in the event of your death. You can divide your estate in any way that you wish, leaving gifts of specific items, specific amounts of money, or a percentage of your overall estate.

Working with a solicitor will ensure your will is legally valid and there are clear instructions for your executors. If you write the will yourself, it’s easy to make mistakes that can cause problems later down the line. My visit to Rollos on Friday was quick and easy and the team were happy to talk through my options. Making a will is something many of us put off, and I hope my experience will encourage my constituents to make an appointment to make their own wills. It’s impossible to know what life has in store for us and it is reassuring to know our loved ones will be taken care of in the worst case scenario. 

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