To make a will in Bristol requires complying with law that has been in place for many years. According to a 2024 National Wills report more than half of UK adults have made a Will, 57% of men and 50% of women. Reasons for not making a Will include income, age (people tend to leave it until they are older) and avoiding the topic. People with young children are less likely to make a Will in Bristol, though it is strongly advisable if you have children to prepare a Will. Nomination of Guardian for children provides a framework by which money can be made available for the maintenance and education of a child until they become old enough to take care of their own affairs.
Bristolians are blessed with the Wills Memorial Building at the University of Bristol however the name does not bear any relationship to a Last Will and testaments. The impressive construct was built between 1915 and 1925 as a memorial to Henry Overton Wills, it was designed by Sir George Otley and construction was halted during the 1st world war and restarted in 1919. The building itself costs £51,000 and today houses the University's school of Law and the school of Earth Science. If you are seeking to locate a historic Will, the Bristol and Avon family history society has records of Wills in Bristol dating back to 1858. Copies of indices published since 1900 are available at the district probate registry in Bristol and microfiche copies of probate grants from 1858 to 1943 are available at Bristol archives.
Historic Wills prepared in Bristol can be tracked using a number of means. The National Will Register maybe able to assist and searches can be undertaken where Wills have not been registered with law firms and professional Will writers Bristol. You can contact such professionals directly and you should include the full name, address and date of death of the deceased. You should also state your relationship to the person and if you are an Executor.
The concept of making a Will in Bristol dates back in this country to Anglo-Saxon times and medieval developments which brought about the Wills Act of 1540 and today we have the Wills Act of 1837. The principal of making a Will has developed through changes in technology and social norms. For example the Law of Property Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1989 updated the witnessing requirements, and it will soon be that digital Wills are possible, including remote signing and witnessing.
With the rich nautical history of Bristol it is true that sailors or military members while at sea on active service can make a Will orally or informally, this can be signed by the master and captain of the ship and are generally regarded as enforceable. If the circumstances meet general conditions the expression of wishes by a sailor can constitute an enforceable Will. The words must be intended to guide someone as to the disposition of an estate and the Wills Act 1918 gave soldiers and sailors the power to point a testamentary Guardian.
The National Archive hold Wills made in the Royal Navy and by Royal Marines personal between 1786 at 1882. The rich history of the documents cannot be overlooked and provide an intriguing insight into how life was for these servicemen. Rose and Trust are professional Will writers offering a specialist service to help individuals to make a Will in Bristol. Contact us on 0117 369 1969 or visit our website at www.rosetrust.co.uk