Laura Richardson’s latest article on writing a Witham Will considers why it is a particularly important exercise for someone that is found to have early-onset dementia.
The diagnosis of early-onset dementia is often unsettling, bringing worries about how you will cope with
looking after your affairs in the future if dementia progresses. With the prognosis usually being that the
dementia will increasingly affect your ability to make decisions, it is important to ensure that you have made
a Will or have updated your current Will to ensure that it accurately reflects your wishes for the distribution
of your Estate.
Accordingly to UK law, in order for your Will to be valid it must be made whilst you are of sound mind and
have the mental capacity to understand the implications of the contents of your Will. Therefore, following a
diagnosis of early-onset dementia, it may be necessary to consult your GP who can attest that you are of a
sufficiently sound mental state at the time that your Will is being made or updated.
If your mental state is not adequately attested to at the time that you write your Will, it is possible that
someone may try to contest your Will after your death. Whilst it is not pleasant to consider the possibility
that your loved ones might contest your Will after you are gone, it is vitally important to ensure that your
wishes are best protected by ensuring that there is no doubt that your Will is valid under UK law.
A diagnosis of dementia does not necessarily mean that you would wish to change your current Will. However, it is advisable to review your Will at this time, as you may not be able to make changes in the
future if your dementia worsens.
Therefore if you have received a diagnosis of early-onset dementia and would like advice regarding your
Will, contact Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services today. Whether you are in Witham or the
surrounding areas of Essex, we offer a free initial consultation in order to discuss your Will and answer any
initial queries you may have. As Will writing specialists, Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services take
pride in offering a bespoke, personal service that reflects the needs and requirements of each and every
client.
Call us today to see how we can help you.
Posted and maintained by Gareth Davies | B2B Webmasters
If you would like to keep up with our latest posts and advice about estate planning through the regular advice that we provide to our clients in this regard, then please also feel free to –
Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ADouglasWills.
Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AndrewDouglasWills.
Follow us on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/b/117915389310253337582/+AndrewdouglaswillsCoUk/
