A Will is a document that explains what to do with the things you own after you have died. ​

This is called your estate. ​

This might be money or your belongings. 

Or property that you own. 

Your Will says who these things should be left to.

People usually leave the things they own to people they care about. 

They might leave some of it to charity like SeeAbility. 

The Government has rules that decides where the things you own go if you do not have a Will. 

This means the things you own may not go to the people you want them to. 

If you are over 18 years old you should make a Will.

It is even more important to have a Will if: 

• You are married or divorced ​

• You have children ​

• You own a house or flat ​

• You don’t have any family ​

• You live with a boyfriend or girlfriend

To make a Will you must be over 18 years old. 

You must understand what you are writing in your Will. 

You must know what things you own.

A Will is a legal document. ​

This means it is very important that it is right. 

The wording can be very confusing.

It is best to have a Solicitor help you. 

A Solicitor gives advice on the law. 

There are Solicitors that have worked with people with disabilities before. 

A Solicitor will cost money. ​

Use the Law Society website to find the right Solicitor for you. 

Some charities help you write your Will for free. 

They may ask you to leave some money to them in your Will. 

You do not have to leave them any money if you do not want to. 

You can leave anything that you own in your Will. 

This could be: ​

• A house or flat that you own

• Money ​

• Jewellery ​

• Furniture​

• Collectibles ​

• A car or bike ​

You make a Will so that the things you care about are looked after when you die.

You can leave the things you own to whoever you want. ​

People usually leave the things they own to: ​

• Their family

• Their friends ​

• A boyfriend or girlfriend ​

• A charity ​

• An organisation ​

​You can leave the things you own to people in different ways.

Your things can be shared equally by different people. ​

You can leave a specific item to a person, like a piece of jewellery.

You can leave a specific amount of money to a person or organisation, like £1000.

You can put different rules into your Will so people or organisations only get it if something else happens. 

You might want to leave the things you own to an organisation if your friends and family are not alive anymore. ​

You will need to sign your Will. ​

This makes it a legal document.

You will also need to have two witnesses.

These are people who agree they saw you sign your Will. 

The witnesses cannot be anyone you are leaving things you own to.

If you are not able to sign your Will because of a disability someone else can sign for you.

You must give permission for someone else to sign it.

You should speak to your Solicitor if you are not able to sign your Will.

You must have capacity to be able to make a Will. ​

This means you must understand what a Will is. ​

And what you are putting in your Will.

This is to make sure that your things go to the right place. ​

And that you are not giving the things you own to the wrong people.

It is important that no one forces you to make a Will. ​

Or tries to persuade you to leave your things to them. ​

Your things should go to the people and places you want it to.

You should speak to your Solicitor if you are worried. ​

If you do not have the capacity, the Court of Protection can write your will. ​

The Court of Protection looks after people who might not be able to make decisions for themselves. ​

Wills can be confusing. ​

You should ask your solicitor to explain anything you do not understand.