Important: For general educational information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice, and reading it does not create a professional-client relationship. Laws and procedures vary by jurisdiction and can change. Consult a qualified professional in each place relevant to you and your assets before making decisions.
Make a private outline before the appointment
nidirect suggests thinking about how much money, property and belongings you have, who you want to benefit, who should look after children under 18, and who should sort out the estate and carry out your wishes. Treat those points as an agenda for a conversation, not as a do-it-yourself will form or a decision about what the law permits.
A private outline can help you identify missing information. Keep account credentials and sensitive identity records separate from a general list, and give a solicitor only the records needed for advice.
Questions to bring to an adviser
- What property, belongings and financial information should be included in the discussion?
- Who do you want to consider as beneficiaries, and what remains undecided?
- Are there children under 18 or other practical care questions to raise?
Ask who would be responsible for carrying out the plan
The nidirect guidance describes an executor as the person responsible for passing on the estate and says an executor can be appointed by naming them in the will. It also notes that courts can appoint other people. Use this as a prompt to ask a solicitor what role and wording are appropriate, not as a conclusion that a named person can or will act in a particular case.
If your affairs include property or family outside Northern Ireland, flag those connections at the beginning. Ask whether separate advice is needed rather than assuming a Northern Ireland document answers every cross-border question.
Questions to bring to an adviser
- Who might be willing and able to discuss the executor role?
- What should happen if the person you have in mind cannot act?
- Are any people or assets connected to another UK nation or country?
Use local professional advice for formalities
nidirect says it is possible to write a will yourself but advises using a solicitor because legal formalities must be followed for validity; it also says more complicated matters may need legal advice. The article does not reproduce those formalities. Ask a Northern Ireland solicitor to explain the current requirements and review any existing will before signing or changing documents.
The nidirect page points readers to the Law Society of Northern Ireland directory to find a solicitor. Confirm the directory and current contact details directly, and ask the professional about fees and the records to bring.
Questions to bring to an adviser
- Which formalities and current rules should a solicitor check?
- Should an existing will or earlier document be reviewed before making changes?
- What records would make the first appointment more useful?
Scope and review status
This article is a limited preparation checklist based on nidirect's will guidance. It does not determine who inherits, whether a document is valid, how tax applies, or how a will interacts with property in another jurisdiction.
This article has not been reviewed by a lawyer or human editor. It is not legal, tax, financial or will-drafting advice. Confirm current requirements with official Northern Ireland guidance and consult qualified local counsel in Northern Ireland before making or relying on a will.
Official starting points
Check these sources for updates; their guidance may have changed since our last source check.
This guide cannot determine which rules apply to you. Speak with a qualified professional in each jurisdiction relevant to your family and assets.