Coronavirus triggers surge in demand for wills

17 Apr 20

Huge demand for will writing services has been reported since the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK in March 2020.

As the awareness of mortality amid the COVID-19 pandemic increases, an increasing amount of people want to get their affairs in order.

However, not everyone has been able to write or update their wills with current restrictions making existing will-writing laws tough to uphold.

Ensuring a will is valid in England and Wales requires it to be signed in front of two neutral witnesses in person, and having two witnesses present.

The law dates back to 1837 at a time of less efficient record-keeping, lower levels of literacy and less advanced technology.

These rules have been severely tested during the lockdown and with social distancing measures in place.

Reports claim wills are being left on car windscreens, while signatures are being witnessed through windows and patio doors as people adhere to social distancing rules.

In 2017, the Law Commission recommended modernising will-writing laws in England and Wales, including the introduction of electronic wills.

However, the Ministry of Justice has no plans to relax the rules at present.

Speak to us about writing a legally-valid will.

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