The legal age of being able to make a Will in the UK is currently 18. This baseline age was outlined in the Wills Act 1837 and has only just recently been reviewed.
Legal experts and Will writing solicitors in North Wales anticipate that this age limit will be lowered to 16 as part of a larger overhaul of the whole Will making process.
There are a number of reasons why proposals have been put forward to lower the age – one being the ability of a 16-year-old to join the army. It makes perfect sense for people such as these to be able to make provisions for their estate at the same age.
It has also been recognised that younger people are also accumulating wealth and assets, so it makes sense that they should be able to plan what happens to these in the event of their death. If they passed away without having a Will, the rules of intestacy would come into play and their parents would typically inherit – but it has now been deemed necessary to give someone of this age the option of planning the distribution of their estate.
Wills solicitors in North Wales also recognise that a 16-year-old would meet all the requirements of the mental capacity tests that are applied in many Will making cases.
Book an appointment to discuss all things relating to making a Will with our experts at Bennett Smith Solicitors.
