Coronavirus Leads to Increase in Wills

Lawyers at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP have reported an increase in enquiries around writing wills since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Private client solicitors at the firm say that the worry of the health implications of the virus and people having more time on their hands during lockdown has led to the spike in wills being drafted.

Recent studies have consistently shown over half of UK adults do not have a will, a statistic Clarke Willmott is hoping to redress.

Rebecca Clarke, a senior associate in the private client team, said: “It has been interesting to see the increase in both enquiries and wills being drafted this year during the pandemic. Speaking to clients it is a combination of

being faced with such a real and present health danger and lockdown boredom meaning that those admin jobs that are always being put off, are finally being ticked off the list.

“Whatever the reason, it is great that more people are writing their wills and safeguarding their family’s future fortune so that they get the maximum benefit from any inheritance left to them.

“It also takes away any undue stress for family later down the line.”

To assist people looking into making a will Clarke Willmott has developed a free, online ‘Which Will?’ tool that prompts the user to think about what is important to them when making a will and recommends which will

best meets their needs.

The most likely times for people to make a will are when major life events occur or circumstances change, including having a baby, moving house, starting a business or a deterioration in health.

Rebecca said: “It’s important to make a will as early as possible and to keep reviewing it so that it continues to be accurate and effective. We are calling on people to use the tool as a sign of their commitment to making a

will in 2021. It’s a great starting point in understanding what protection a good will can offer.”

Clarke Willmott is a national law firm with offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.

For more information or to use the free Which Will? Tool visit https://www.clarkewillmott.com/which-will/