Avoiding the Need for Emergency Wills: The Importance of Timely Preparation

It’s a privilege to help those in difficult times. Today I was at the Royal Free Hospital, supporting a family and providing an ‘Emergency’ Will within 24 hours of instruction. The morale of the story- don’t put it off!

Hi, it’s Graham Martin from Kingsbridge Wills and Trusts, and it’s now the 6th of June 2024, and I’m a little bit tired, aren’t I? I thought I’d tell you what I’ve been up to today.

So I was contacted two days ago by somebody who said that their Aunt was in a pretty bad way with, well, they have cancer. And I got the call on a Tuesday, and then they’re all free, and they’re not expected to live very long, sadly. Probably not much after the weekend. So I was able to get up there today and talk to the lady in question, and her husband, and her two children, and take instruction. So that’s what I’ve been doing since I’ve been working with this individuals will.

And tomorrow, I’ll be taking the will to the lady, so her family will be in attendance. There’ll be two independent witnesses, when we sign it. So I just want to say that, you know, sometimes this job is, well, it’s quite real. You know, we’re dealing with real-life situations, and it’s a privilege, really, to be involved in fairly serious conversations with people, and to help them through what can be a very difficult time, giving people the opportunity to reflect and to consider.

But fortunately, this individual has actually, well, a will will be made and will be approved with us tomorrow. So therefore, they’ll have an active valid will, but sadly, a few percent of people, they don’t have a will. They’re going to estate, and looking at this lady’s estate, it’ll be a complete pickle. It’ll probably take them 9 to 15 months for it to go through probate, and what I’ve crossed up to £7,000 to actually deal with it. Whereas in this instance, I’m very confident that the sum of the daughter from the executors and the proper will require it to be raised to get to the department of probate.

So there you go. There’s a bit more work to be done, but I thought I’d just share with you what I’ve been up to today. So I’m looking for recommendations and referrals for people that are looking for wills. They don’t need to be in hospital, they don’t need to have terminal cancer, but somebody who’s looking ideally to put their order, to put their affairs in order before they live to regret it.

So it’s Graham Martin from Kingsbridge Wills & Trusts, and you can contact me on my mobile. You can call me and text me on 07 973 175 882. Or you can email me, [email protected]. So back up there tomorrow and it’s a sad situation, but we’re very happy to be able to help your family.

If you or a loved one is in need of securing an Emergency Will, please contact Graham Martin.