Making Your Will: What you need to know and prepare before you see your Lawyer

The best time to write your will is today.

Most people delay doing this because of the uneasiness of the thought of confronting death, belief that the process is unnecessary, or simply, the lack of knowledge. This guide was prepared with those concerns in mind.

In ‘Making Your Will’, you’ll be walked through the law governing wills in Guyana along with the practical matters you should think through before your first legal appointment. These include the documents and information you'll need to take to your lawyer, who should be left with a copy of your will, whether your will needs to be lodged with the Court/Registry, what the law requires for your will to be valid, what happens if a beneficiary predeceases you, and so forth. Being prepared makes all the difference. It saves time, reduces cost, and ensures that the will you sign actually reflects what you intend.

Whether you consider your situation to be simple or complex and whether think you’re too young or “seasoned” to take on this process, please know that a will is not a formality, and not something to be put off until later. If you die without a valid will, your belongings may not pass according to your wishes. They would pass according to the rules of intestacy, which may not reflect who you would have chosen to benefit. Let’s avoid this outcome.

Get the guide and start preparing today. Your loved ones are depending on you!