Making a Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death. If you have not made a valid will, your property will pass according to the Law of Intestacy. This may not be what you would have wished.

If you are a single person you will want your estate divided amongst friends, relatives and charities of your choosing and in the proportions you want.

If you are married, don't assume 'my other half will get everything'. Brothers and sisters or parents may have a claim. Often your children have a right to part of your estate. If you are living as a couple but not officially married, you may be treated as a single person and a surviving partner may get nothing at all.

If you are a parent, you should consider who would look after your children in the event of your death. This is particularly important in the case of one-parent families or unmarried parents living together. A Valid Will nominating guardians is invaluable in such cases. If no one knows what you wanted, the Court will decide on the future of your children, and it may not be what you would have wished.

If you are retired maybe you made a Will a long time ago. It probably needs updating to include additional grandchildren or deletion of persons you no longer feel you wish to leave anything to.

If you made a Will over five years ago you should think about reviewing it as personal and family circumstances change and it is important that your Will still expresses your wishes in the light of such changes.