Getting married in Braintree? Don’t forget to get your Will written! Read Laura Richardson’s article to find out what you should consider when writing your Will if you are getting married in Braintree.

Having made a legally valid Will under UK law, there are some important life events following which you may wish to review or revise your Will. These could include having children, buying a large asset such as a house or a car, or if you come into an amount of money. In any event it is wise to review your Will every few years to ensure that it still reflects your current wishes. However, one of the biggest life events that many of us experience actually invalidates any previously made Wills under UK law! This life event is legally getting married. Under UK law, any Will made previous to the legal act of getting married is no longer valid under UK law and therefore should you die, your Estate would be passed down under the rules of Intestacy,  rather than via the instructions in your now invalid Will! Therefore it is crucial that you make a new Will once you are married.

Under UK law it is your legal right to leave your Estate to whomsoever you choose, and this means that if you do not wish to include your new spouse in your Will, then you are within your rights to leave them out of the new Will. However, it is important to note that should you die first, your spouse may be able to apply for a portion of your Estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 should they have been financially dependent upon you or your income immediately before your death. This Act also allows other eligible persons to apply for a sum of inheritance from your Estate should they have been not sufficiently provided for in your Will. These persons include:

  • Your spouse or civil partner
  • Any former spouse or civil partner who has not remarried
  • Any of your children, including adopted children, or step-children
  • Anyone whom you financially maintained in any way immediately prior to your death
  • Any person living in your house for at least two years prior to your death.

It is important to bear this in mind when making or revising your Will, therefore should you be unsure about whether a claim could be made against your Estate by one of the above-described parties following your death, it is highly advisable to seek the professional advice of a suitably experienced Solicitor. At Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services, we specialise in Will making and all associated legal services. As such Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services provide a comprehensive Will making service that will give you the peace of mind that your assets will be protected after you die.

Therefore, if you are planning on getting married in Braintree, also make a plan to get your Will written today!

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