Celebrity death shows importance of making a will

Heath Ledger's death has been used by two legal experts to emphasise the importance of making a will and changing it as life circumstances alter.

Lawyers Sue Medder and Charlie Tee both told Ifaonline.co.uk: "... Simply having a will is not the end of the story as it is important to ensure that it is kept under review as you go through life."

They both pointed out that Ledger, who died in 2008, had decided to make a will prior to the birth of his daughter, Matilda Rose, but had not revised it after, meaning that she had no legal rights to his estate.

Instead, his three siblings and parents were named beneficiaries in his original will, creating uncertainty.

Luckily Michelle Williams, the mother of ledger's daughter, reached a compromise with her late partner's parents, but this may not happen in other cases where people making a will fail to update it.

To avoid such a scenario, the news source recommended checking a will regularly to determine if any points can be updated.

Furthermore, Martin Densham-Smith and Jonathan Fry, two stepbrothers who went to court to battle over their parents' inheritance, have highlighted the importance of making a will, the Daily Telegraph revealed.

Published by Hannah Carr