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Most of us have scrabbled around at the last minute trying to find someone to witness and sign a new passport photo, frantically trying to decipher whether someone is a “person of good standing in their community”, all the while hearing the clock tick in the background, getting closer and closer to that holiday of a lifetime?

So you can be forgiven for thinking that signing a Will would be the same: that you’d need a professional or even your lawyer to witness something that’s so important. But surprisingly, signing a Will is much simpler than a passport photo. And so even right now, when our contact with people outside our own home is limited, it’s not that difficult.

Anyone can sign a Will. As long as they’re over 18, and as long as they don’t directly or indirectly benefit from your Will. The rule of thumb is: if they’re named in the Will, they can’t sign it. So, a flatmate or neighbour is perfect. Even your postman – unless you’ve developed a strong bond to them over lockdown and are thinking of leaving them your estate that is!

Everyone should have a Will. Without one you are leaving it up to the law to decide how your estate (your money, possessions and property) is passed on – and this may not be the way you wanted it. Writing a Will is especially important if you have children or other family who depend on you financially, and can also help reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax that might be payable on the value of the property and money you leave behind. So just because we are in lockdown and non essential business offices are not physically open, there is no reason not to put your wishes in black and white now and give both you and your family peace of mind. Get in touch with our lawyers who can draft your Will for you remotely and then grab your postman as a witness!