What do I need to do to write a Will?

The person who sorts out your property when you die and carries out the instructions in your Will is called your executor. It can be a complicated job even if your instructions and your property are quite simple – it’s not unusual for the process to take several months and the job of an executor is sometimes difficult. For example, they might have to decide when to sell your property so that the people who inherit the money from its sale get the most money.

You can appoint up to four executors, but people normally appoint two, in case one is unwilling or unable to act for you when the time comes. An executor may also be a beneficiary in your Will, so you can choose your partner or children (providing they are 18 years old). There may be advantages of using somebody who is familiar with your affairs, but a solicitor can also do this if you’d like to save the people close to you the job at what is likely to be a difficult time.

It is always good to check with whoever you plan to name as your executor that they are happy to take on the job. In case you were thinking of asking us, Sue Ryder cannot act as executor.

There is more advice on choosing an executor on the Money Helper website.

The more complex your financial affairs, the more sensible it is to take advice from a solicitor. Using a solicitor may be cheaper than you might think, and it means that you have the peace of mind of knowing it's been done properly. You should definitely consider using a solicitor if your family position is complicated.

You might need a solicitor if:

• your estate may have to pay inheritance tax (currently, you’ll have to pay if your estate’s value is more than £325,000)
• you’ve got a complex family situation, like former partners or estranged children, and you want to be sure how your estate can be divided
• you want to protect someone’s interests after you’ve gone, like a disabled family member
• or you want to talk through the options with an expert or you need some support you can trust.

If you already have a solicitor, they will often come out to you at home or in the hospice to help you write your Will.

Otherwise, you might ask a friend for a recommendation or you can search the Law Society database for a solicitor near you.

A Will-writing service is usually cheaper than a solicitor and, depending on the service you use, you can do it online, face to face or by post.

Not many Will writers are fully legally qualified, so if you do use a Will-writing service, it is best to check that they belong to the Institute of Professional Willwriters or Society of Willwriters.

Members of these organisations must have training, be insured to cover legal costs if your Will is challenged and follow a code of practice.

Sue Ryder offers special schemes that enable you to update or make your Will for free, either online, on the telephone or by visiting a solicitor.

There is no obligation whatsoever to include a gift to Sue Ryder in your Will. However, we’d be delighted if you chose to remember our charity or a specific Sue Ryder hospice, knowing that your kindness will go on to touch the lives of many people through the care, compassion and expertise we deliver each day.

Find out more about our Free Wills Service.

The riskiest way to write a Will is to do it yourself, and we do not recommend this as an option. Possible consequences of getting it wrong include that the Will might be invalid or not have the effect intended. The only time you might choose to do this is if your affairs are very simple – for example, if you’re married or in a civil partnership, you have no children, and you want to leave everything to your spouse or civil partner when you die.

But you should remember that the law about inheritances and how they’re taxed can be complex, and things might change between you writing your Will and when you die. That makes it risky to write your own Will without any advice at all. If you choose to do this, you can find templates to help you online.

If you are getting support from a family support team and/or social worker, they can normally help you think through what support you might need to draw up your Will.

There is also more detailed advice on how to draw up your Will on the Money Helper website.