Research commissioned by SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly) and Maxwell Hodge Solicitors shows that nearly one-half of UK adults have experienced a life changing event since last updating their Will.

Andrea Ashton, Solicitor at West Kirby branch of Maxwell Hodge Solicitors, explains:

“It is important to keep your Will up to date and I would recommend reviewing and updating your Will every five years, or when a major change in your life occurs that impacts your loved ones such as divorce, marriage, a new birth or even a death in the family.  Our research shows that four in ten Wills in the North West are out of date, and many people in the region don’t have one in the first place.”

The new research commissioned by SFE and carried out by Census wide also reveals:

 Around half of respondents in the North West (52%) have experienced a life changing event, such as getting married, divorced or having a child, since they last updated their will – meaning it is likely to be out of date.

  • Over one fifth (22%) of respondents in the North West know someone who has been affected by something going wrong with a will.

 

  • One fifth (19%) of respondents in the North West believe it’s possible to update a will by amending the original document and initialing the changes – it is not possible to legally update a will this way

 

  • 76% of parents in the North West have no legal plans in place to make sure their children are looked after, should the parents die.

Having an up to date, professionally drafted Will is crucial in ensuring your wishes are carried out in the way you’d like when you die.

Maxwell Hodge and SFE, a membership body of over 1,700 UK solicitors specialising in advising people in planning for the future, are calling on individuals to make sure they have an updated will in place ahead of Update Your Will Week 2023 (23rd – 29th January).

 

If you would like to discuss updating your Will please contact Andrea Ashton on:

Telephone – 0151 625 9154

34 Grange Road, West Kirby CH48 4EF

Email – andreaashton@maxweb.co.uk

www.maxwellhodge.co.uk