The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about many changes, a lot of which involve the use of technology in our daily lives; from telemedicine becoming routine practice, to previously reluctant online shoppers becoming converts, and home working becoming the norm in large offices.
Now it is also possible to make a will in England without the requirement for two witnesses to be physically present. Instead, the Ministry of Justice has granted a concession allowing video technology to be used to witness wills being signed. This is to try and limit the number of people who die intestate and it should be regarded as a last resort. This measure has been backdated to 31 January 2020 and covers wills that were witnessed by video under lockdown. It will remain in force until January 2022.
One very good reason for making a will – video or otherwise – is to ensure that assets in your estate are passed on to the people you want to benefit from them. It also significantly simplifies the process of obtaining Grant of Probate and means the assets can be accessed more quickly, avoiding financial distress for beneficiaries. (more…)