Did you know that you can make your Last Will and Testament online? It is a much easier and cheaper way to make a will, but is it safe or legitimate? Read on to learn more!
A Will is a legal declaration of who you want to inherit your estate when you die and who you want to administer the process of distributing your assets.(source: access-legal from Shoosmiths)
We often don’t want to think about what will happen after we die, because it makes us sad. However, the truth is everyone will die either sooner or later, and it is better to have your affairs in order when you do. Having a clear and comprehensive will makes it easier for your grieving family members to deal with the difficult process of sorting out and sharing your worldly possessions.
There are many ways to make a will, and the most common method is to hire a lawyer specially versed in the legal details of Wills and sit down with them to craft one. However, with the development of the internet this classic method is not the only one to choose from. These days, you can actually create your entire Will online!
How does it work?
When you are making a Will on an internet will-writing website, you will be provided with a detailed form to fill in specifying all of your details and personal requirements. The software will ask you all of the necessary questions and checks to understand your needs.
Once you have crafted the Will using the software you can preview the will to double check it.
All legal Wills written though online sites are checked by a qualified Will writer, and once they are approved you can pay for your Will online using a credit card and then either print it out or opt for the website to ship it to you in the post. These websites also allow you to add free updates to your Will later on.
Is it safe?
In the early days of the internet it was a scary thought to give so much personal information away over a website, but these days the reality is much different. Websites are so much more secure than they once were, and writing a Will online is totally safe.
There is also no need to worry about the validity of an online Will, as it is perfectly legal to prepare a Will in this way without a solicitor. As long as the Will is correctly worded, signed and witnessed, it is a fully legal document.
Advantages & Disadvantages
One of the major advantages of writing a Will online is the factor of convenience. Being able to write your own Will quickly and easily from the comfort of your own home makes this onerous task much less intimidating. Also, writing a Will online is often much cheaper than paying a lawyer for their time.
However, the disadvantage of online Wills is that they are not suited to any situation that is slightly more complex than the usual Will arrangement. If your situation is complex and you have a lot of detailed instructions and information in your Will, you might need to hire a lawyer to help untangle the confusing threads of your inheritance.
In conclusion, leave the complex wills to the lawyer, but as long as you have a basic and simple Will to write, crafting it online is an affordable and convenient option.
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