People in Edinburgh and the Lothians are being encouraged to consider the risks of not having a will in place following new research that reveals half of people in the UK aged over 30 don’t have one, meaning their wishes might not be carried out when they die.
The research from The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly) found that 49% of over-30s in the UK don’t have a will.
Nearly half say creating a will is on their to-do list, but 43% of these say it’s been on their to-do list for more than 12 months.
The survey of more than 2,000 people aged over 30 reveals one in ten UK adults have started making a will but haven’t finished it.
The new data shows a third haven’t made a will because they “don’t know how to get started”.
A quarter of those who have it on their to-do list even admitted they would prioritise watching TV.
The findings have been released to mark “National Update Your Will Week” this week.
The Association of Lifetime Lawyers is a UK-wide membership body for legal professionals supporting vulnerable and older people with expert advice and support.
It recommends people review and update their will every five years or when a major change in their life occurs that impacts on them or their loved ones.
These could include a marriage or civil partnership, divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership, a new birth, a death in the family, or if a person or a beneficiary has obtained a Gender Recognition Certificate.
Dot Mullally, partner at Edinburgh and Lothians-based McDougall McQueen solicitors, said the worrying findings could leave many bereaved families distressed if their loved ones haven’t communicated their wishes legally through a will.
Ms Mullally said: “We all know how important this type of life admin is, but the research shows just how hard people find it to get started.
“It doesn’t need to take a long time to prepare or update your will, especially if you have an expert to guide you through the process. And it’s time well spent, reducing the burden on your loved ones after your death, and reducing the risk of disputes that can be costly in time and money to resolve.
“Many people think they’re too young to write a will and understandably don’t like to think about the worst that could happen, but we often have to deal with cases where a badly drafted or non-existent will has caused undue distress to those left behind.
“Research shows 21% of wills are handwritten or have handwritten amendments which could make them illegible and therefore difficult to understand.
“To get your will right, it’s always safest to speak to a solicitor who can help you plan for the future and communicate your wishes in the right way.”
