Wills and probate advice issued by expert

One expert on wills and probate matters has issued advice to people about the importance of making a will.

Richard Ashton, a partner in the trusts and estates department of a law firm, told Shropshirelive.com: "A will is a legal document by which a person provides details of who will manage and receive their estate upon the event of their death."

He said that anyone can decide to make a will if they have the capacity required, adding that this document must meet certain requirements in order for it to be valid.

Mr Ashton also said that a will is important as it allows people to still control their affairs once they have passed away.

He said that there are fixed rules that must be followed by law to decide how an individual's estate will be distributed should someone die without this document in place.

In a case where a person dies intestate (without a will) and none of their relatives can be found, their assets will be transferred to the Treasury, although relatives have up to 30 years to make a claim on an estate.

Published by Hannah Carr