Can we have a Joint Last Will

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Can we write our wills jointly?

No, but “Mirror Wills” are common. A mirror will is when a husband, wife or partner make almost identical wills leaving for example everything to each other respectively, should one partner die, and if both die together then direct to children. If there are no children then to a named beneficiary.

It is not possible to have a joint will they must be individual wills, so, in effect, they are separate legal documents with similar contents. The respective partners usually become both sole beneficiary and sole executor to each other.

What can I say in my last Will?

When you make a last Will you are able to say exactly how you want your affairs to be dealt with after your death. You can add any personal comments, and you can specify whether you wish to be buried, cremated or if you have no preference and wish to leave the decision to remaining family. Where the service (if any) should be held, or if any sermon or hymn special to you, should be used. Your Last Will should be as personal to you as possible. Wills are not necessarily, long complex documents, after all, there should be no room in it for ambiguity and it should be made simply and understandable. You should be guided by a professional or experienced Will writer. Below is one Real Reason Why you should seek professional help.

Quote from a badly written Last Will.

"I leave everything to my wife and on her death it is to be shared between my children"

An absolute disaster! The husband wanted to leave everything to his wife, who would then, on her death, leave it to their children. This statement means that his estate by-passed his wife in favour of his children. His wife is left merely holding his estate in trust for the children.

This is one of the reasons why lawyers spend more time, and make more money, sorting out disputes in badly drafted DIY Wills than they do from drawing them up.

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