Drafting a Will

By Tolley in association with Emma Haley at Boodle Hatfield LLP

The following Trusts and Inheritance Tax guidance note by Tolley in association with Emma Haley at Boodle Hatfield LLP provides comprehensive and up to date tax information covering:

Drafting a Will
Experience required for Will drafting
Basic content of a Will
Specific gifts
After a Will is signed

This guidance note considers the basic content of a Will and the typical provisions found in most Wills. Other guidance notes in this sub-topic deal with provisions that may be relevant only in certain cases:

•Nil rate band
•Providing for a spouse or civil partner
•Providing for children
•Will trusts
•Pilot trusts and Will planning
•Nil rate band discretionary trusts

Also, see the Checklist ― obtaining information for the client’s Will which can be sent to a client to obtain the relevant information.

You may also want to consider the Is an overseas Will needed guidance note.

Experience required for Will drafting

Will drafting is more complex than is sometimes appreciated and is generally carried out either by a solicitor or Will-writer. Will drafting is a specialist subject; there are many traps for the unwary. Advisers should also be aware that this is a common area for negligence claims. The unique feature of negligence in the context of Will drafting is that the adviser’s duty of care extends beyond the client making the Will, which means that the risk of a negligence claim arising may be greater.

White and another v Jones and others [1995] 1 All ER 691 (subscription sensitive)

The loss resulting fro