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.
A UK-wide search result may not be a UK-wide answer
GOV.UK's making-a-will guide says that Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules. If you are reading a checklist online, check which part of the UK it addresses before using it. Where you live, own property or have signed a document can make a professional conversation more important.
The GOV.UK guide covers subjects such as what to include, getting a will signed and witnessed, and when to update one. It recommends advice when a will is not straightforward. This article is not a substitute for the formal rules where your will needs to work.
Administration has its own local language
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service guide describes confirmation when dealing with an estate in Scotland. Terminology and procedure can differ from advice written about England and Wales; using one jurisdiction's forms or assumptions in another can send a family in the wrong direction.
If an estate spans the UK and another country, tell an adviser about all properties and existing documents. Ask whether separate local procedures will be necessary rather than assuming a single process applies to every asset.
Questions to bring to an adviser
- Which part of the UK does this guidance cover?
- Where are the original will and asset records?
- Does the family need advice in another country too?
Use the official starting points
Use the relevant government's current guidance and ask a qualified solicitor for advice on your circumstances. Keep a secure record of the documents and advisers involved so family members do not have to reconstruct them later.
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.