What Could Happen to Your Assets if Your Lose Your Life to COVID-19 Without a Will?

Most of us have already had our lives dominated by the incessant news about the global COVID-19 pandemic, but there are a number of deaths that have without reasonable notice inflicted families. After all, no one really thought a virus allegedly derived from bats could do so much damage to the human population. But it has and swiftly too. One wonders how many elderly people have succumbed to the virus who had never bothered with estate planning. Having a viable and fair estate plan makes it easier for family to handle their unexpected loss in such troubled times. This is a good time when you are staying inside to consider updating or taking out a will. Even younger people are losing lives to COVID-19 and they should make a will too.

Making a will brings peace of mind

Many older people who have never bothered with making a will are suffering stress because self isolation doesn’t give them a chance to get a clear view of their position if they were to succumb to the virus. Many legal firms have closed their doors to clients, as the COVID-19 disease spreads rapidly throughout the country. However, this doesn’t mean you cannot contact a solicitor and discuss your position as long as you have a computer or ready smart phone at your fingertips. You can browse through the solicitors in your area or, if you are already familiar with one, you can submit information by using a number of resources. These include:

• Phone,
• Facetime,
• WhatsApp,

If you choose one of the last three, you can see the face of the solicitor you are talking to and provide in the privacy of your home your personal details and that of your estate. The solicitor will prepare all the necessary documentation for your will and bring it directly to a window in your home where you can sign it.

The documentation will then be returned to the solicitor’s office for safe keeping. You will not be flouting the distance rules and you will only have the briefest encounter with your chosen solicitor. You can always don a face mask if you wish. This will protect you from the unlikely chance of catching the virus. Preparing and maintaining a will up-to-date is now the simplest and the most cost-effective way of ensuring that your possessions, assets and property are handled in accordance with your personal wishes if you happen to lose your life unexpectedly to COVID-19.

If you don’t take action now and you lose your life your estate will end up being distributed according to certain government rules. The sorts of things that often go wrong when a partner dies intestate without a will include not registering your civil partnership. You are then not eligible to inherit from one another unless a will is present. This means a caring, sharing partnership without a will could be devastating financially for the partner who is still alive.

Don’t forget, making a will saves your family from having to endure decisions made on your behalf because you have left this life intestate.

Call Curtis Legal today for FREE advice on estate planning.