You can't take it with you, so don't leave your bereft family to fight over it
.BBC series shows that writing a will is one of the most important financial and personal decisions a person should make
A critically acclaimed BBC series stressing the importance of making a will and the ramifications of not doing so is driving home the message to millions of TV viewers that writing a will is a crucial task that each person should undertake, ensuring that a person's estate, whether it be a treasured collection of football memorabilia or a valuable home, will be passed to the people they want to benefit from it.
The six part series sees management guru Sir Gerry Robinson, one of Britain's most respected businessmen, and a specialist wills solicitor helping a range of modern British families through the process of writing wills.
The programme is currently being shown on friday evenings on BBC2 - see BBC website for more details
Described by critics as 'emotional' and 'thought-provoking', the programme highlights the changing nature of family structures and the need to seek the services of a solicitor who can prepare a will to make sure it reflects existing family circumstances and a persons wishes.
Responding to the series of programmes, Law Society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson said being able to talk to a solicitor expert in this area of the law who can make sure that your wishes are expressed in a way that does not cause problems for your family and friends after your death is priceless.
'A poorly drafted will may have no legal meaning and can cause anguish for relatives who have to deal with what should be a straightforward process but can become complicated and costly.
'Making a will is particularly important if you are not married to your partner. Contrary to what many people think, there is no such thing as a common law wife or husband. Under English law, even if a man and woman have lived together for many years and have children, they are not regarded in law as related. If a partner who has not drawn up a will dies, the rules of intestacy mean that your partner will not receive anything without making a claim to the courts.
'A will is much more than a legal document containing instructions as to what to do after your death. Decisions made in a will can prevent enormous anguish and jealousy which can often tear families apart. As this programme shows, writing a will with the advice of an expert solicitor is one of the most important financial and personal decisions for people to make. It is extremely important to talk to a solicitor who can make sure that the will is expressed in a way that is legally watertight. A solicitor will also be able to advise on complex financial issues such as inheritance tax and trusts planning. Solicitors are all trained, regulated and insured if anything should go wrong.'
There are risks to consumers in using an unregulated and unqualified person who has set up as a will writer. Unlike solicitors, will writers are not robustly regulated by law, and not all are thoroughly insured to protect against risk. Solicitors are all trained, regulated and insured if anything should go wrong.'
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