Surely I don’t need a lawyer to help me write my Will – I want to do it myself!

You can certainly write your Will yourself if you wish but in doing so, you run the risk that it may not be properly drafted or signed and witnessed and might therefore not be valid in its entirety or in part.  Trying to save money by drawing up your own Will might result in your estate paying more in legal fees in the long run to sort out any issues that could have been avoided if professional advice had been taken in the first place.

Some common errors include not having the Will signed properly, for example if one of the witnesses is under 18 or is a beneficiary of the Will this could invalidate it; the Will might not dispose of the full extent of your estate, meaning that you die partially intestate and the part of your estate not covered might end up going to people that you would not wish to inherit it; or you might be too vague in your description of particular items, for example describing a ring simply as 'my gold ring' when you have more than one, which could cause confusion to your Executor and disappointment to your beneficiary. 

Your Will of Jersey Real Estate has to be read aloud to you by a Jersey qualified solicitor or advocate prior to you signing it so this requires the involvement of a professional.

It is important to take proper legal advice when looking at your succession planning to ensure that everything happens in line with your wishes. 

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Disclaimer

This client briefing has been prepared for clients and professional associates of Ogier. The information and expressions of opinion which it contains are not intended to be a comprehensive study or to provide legal advice and should not be treated as a substitute for specific advice concerning individual situations.

Regulatory information can be found under Legal Notice