Making your Will

It is important to make a Will. In Scotland there are legal rules for dividing up property if someone dies without a Will, but there can be uncertainty, disputes and legal expenses, and surviving relatives may need to go to court to sort things out. Our Making your Will guide explains why a Will is important and who can help.

You can write a Will yourself, but it is better to use a solicitor to write or check your Will, as problems can arise after your death if mistakes have been made, the Will is not entirely clear, or it has not been properly signed or witnessed.

If you decide to use a pre-printed Will form, check that it applies to Scotland as the rules in England and Scotland are very different.

The cost of using a solicitor to write a Will varies depending how complex it is and who you use, so you should shop around before choosing one. Most Wills are not complex and solicitors may be able to give you a fixed price before starting work.

Some solicitors offer a free Will-writing service in return for a donation to charity. You can find out about Age Scotland’s partnership with Solicitors for Older People Scotland here.