Writing your own Will with a high-street kit or an online template is tempting, it’s quick, it’s cheap, and it feels like you’re ticking a job off the list. But the hard truth is that a poorly drafted Will is often worse than no Will at all. Here are the five mistakes we see most often.
1. Incorrect witnessing
A Will must be signed in the presence of two independent witnesses who are not beneficiaries (or married to beneficiaries). Get this wrong and gifts can fail, or the whole Will becomes invalid.
2. Vague or ambiguous wording
“My belongings” or “my savings” sounds clear enough at the kitchen table. In probate court, it can spark months of dispute. Professional Wills use precise legal language for good reason.
3. Forgetting about the family home
If you jointly own your home as “joint tenants”, it passes outside your Will entirely. Many DIY Wills forget to address the severance of tenancy or a Property Trust, leaving the most valuable asset unprotected.
4. Not appointing the right executors
Your executor has real legal responsibilities. Choosing a family member who can’t cope, or naming only one executor with no backup, can derail the entire process.
5. Never reviewing it
Marriage revokes a Will. Divorce changes it. New children, new homes and new businesses all need to be reflected. A Will that’s even five years out of date may no longer do what you think it does.
A professionally drafted Will costs far less than most people assume, and gives you absolute certainty it will do its job when it matters most.
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Book a free, no-obligation consultation with Colin.
