FREE ON-LINE WILLS SERVICE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2018 :: RMTnews 22 RMT has introduced a new on- line Will service which allows you to write your own will immediately. Your information and wishes are entered as you go through the questionnaire, just like they would be at a meeting with a solicitor, only you don’t have to wait for the solicitor to draft the will, you just press a button and the will is printed and ready for you to sign at your convenience. No special legal skills or IT experience are necessary, the system explains all the words and phrases that you come across when making a will as well as providing useful information about how the law on wills works in practice. Client confidentiality and Data Protection are key considerations and so the on- line Will System operates in a safe and secure environment. You don’t have to complete the on-line questionnaire in one sitting, you can save the information you have entered and then re-visit the system at a later date to finish writing the will. It is a good idea to map out your plans in writing and make sure you that have details of full names and full postal addresses of everyone who you need to mention available before you start. Your note of your plans should include the following information; • the names and addresses of the people who you want to arrange your funeral and sort things out when you have died (the “Executors”); • if any gifts can’t be paid right away for any reason then the people who look after the gifts in the meantime are called “Trustees” so you should also have their details to hand • if you have young children then you can appoint “Guardians” to look after them when you have gone, if so, you’ll also need their details to hand • if you want any personal belongings to go to anyone in particular, make a list of items and put the name and address at the side of them to help you when filling in the questionnaire • if you want to make gifts of cash amounts to anyone then make a list of the amount next to each person’s details • otherwise, you need to decide what fraction of what’s left when you die goes to each person, so you might say “all to my widow, or if she’s gone before me then equally between my three children but if any of them dies before me, their children get their share” ONLINE WILL WRITING – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Why bother, why not make a will with my local solicitor? The RMT Online Will Writing System (“OWS”) is FREE and allows you to write your own will immediately. Your information and wishes are entered as you go through the questionnaire, just like they would be at a meeting with a solicitor, only you don’t have to wait for the solicitor to get round to drafting the will, you just press a button and the will is printed and ready for you to sign at your convenience. What about legal advice that I might need before I make a will? As you follow the step by step process and complete the online questionnaire, basic information is provided along the way. It must be remembered that the free will writing service is only designed for people who only need a simple will and should not be treated as an alternative to obtaining specialised legal advice. How hard is it to use the online will writing system? No special legal skills or IT experience is necessary, the system explains all the words and phrases that you come across when making a will as well as providing useful information about how the law on wills works in practice. Is my personal information safe? Client confidentiality and Data Protection are key considerations and so the OWS operates in a safe and secure environment. What if I have to stop part way through the process? You don’t have to complete the online questionnaire in one sitting, you can save the information you have entered and then re-visit the system at a later date to finish writing the will. The information is retained for six months so you have plenty of time to go back to finish your will. What if I don’t have time to think about what I want whilst I’m on the computer? RMT recommends that you map out your plans in writing and make sure you have everyone’s full names and full postal addresses to hand before you start. Your note of your plans should include the following information; • the names and addresses of the people who you want to arrange your funeral and sort things out when you have died, (the “Executors”) • if any gifts can’t be paid right away for any reason then the people who look after the gifts in the meantime are called “Trustees” so you should also have their details to hand (although your executors can also be your trustees) • if you have young children then you can appoint “Guardians” to look after them when you have gone, if so, you’ll also need their details to hand • if you want any personal belongings to go to anyone in particular, make a list of items and put the name and address at the side of them to help you when filling in the questionnaire FREE ON-LINE WILLS SERVICE New service allows RMT members to complete and download Wills ready to sign