It’s true that anyone can make a Will. Off-the-shelf kits are readily available but it isn’t as easy as filling out the forms and ticking the boxes.
There are a number of factors that can invalidate a Will….here are some of them.
- If the Will is not signed and dated by the testator in front of two witnesses, it is invalid.
- The original Will is required – a photocopy won’t do!
- If a Will has been altered or looks to have been tampered with, it may be invalid.
- If the Will is not the last one made by the testator it will be declared invalid.
- Did you know that marriage revokes a previously made Will?
- If the testator was considered to be not ‘sound of mind’ when making the Will it may be invalidated
- A witness cannot also be a beneficiary – this is a common mistake in ‘home-done’ Wills.
An invalid Will is entirely avoidable.
An invalid Will is likely to cause huge emotional stress for loved ones and the process of resolving matters can be lengthy….not to mention expensive!
Invest a couple of hundred pounds in a professional Will now and save heartache and money in the future!
