A short note on the question that comes up in most of our private client conversations. The general rule is straightforward: every adult should have a current will. The harder question is what counts as “current.”
In our experience, the life events that should prompt a review of a will are: marriage or civil partnership (which usually revokes any earlier will), the birth or adoption of children, the death of an executor or significant beneficiary, divorce or separation, the acquisition or disposal of significant assets, and a change of residence between jurisdictions.
For most clients, a will is appropriate to review every five to ten years even in the absence of these events. Tax rules change, family circumstances change, and the assumptions that made sense at the time of drafting may not still apply.
If you have a will that you have not reviewed in some years, or if you have never made one, we are happy to arrange a first conversation to discuss whether a review or new will is appropriate.