Top tips for making your will

• Make a list of all your assets and approximate values. Include details of your bank and building society accounts, other savings, shares investment policies, life insurance, pensions and property that you own. Also list any debts such as mortgage and credit cards. This is useful for the solicitor drawing up your will and if you keep it up to date is a big help for anyone sorting out your affairs in the future.
• Think about who you want to sort out your affairs on death. This might be your spouse, children or a family friend. Ask them if they would be prepared to do this for you.
• Make a list of any specificgifts you would like to mkae. Such as £500 to my grandchildren or the gift of a family heirloom. Grandfather's gold pocket watch to my son.
• Decide who is to receive everything else and think about who should receive this if they die befroe you. Such as everything to my wife if she dies before me then to my children.
• Bring yuor address book to your appointment so that you can have the addressees and full names of anyone who will be mentioned in the will.
• When arranging an appointment ask the name of who will be dealing with drawing up the will for you and ask for their direct telephone number. Write down these details and the date and time for your appointment.
• If you have to cancel let them know as soon as possible.
• Do not keep your original will at home. They get lost! Most solicitors offer to store wills in a fire proof strong room and will provide you with a copy of your will.
• Look at your will at least once every three years and check it still reflects your wishes. You do not need to change your will if addresses change or even if a grandaughter gets married, but it is a good idea to do a short note with details of the change and send it to your solicitor to be placed with your will.
• If you live alone it is a good idea for your solicitor to have an up to date list of your assets kept with your will.

For more information please contact Alison Playle on 0115 947 0641 or email aplayle@andersonssolicitors.co.uk