• Find a solicitor – if you don’t already use a solicitor, ask friends and family for a referral or consult your local listings.
• Make a list of all your assets and their approximate value i.e. property, car, savings, insurance policies etc.
• Make a list of all your liabilities i.e. mortgage, other loans, overdraft, credit cards etc.
• Consider who you would like to look after your financial affairs (your executors) and agree this with the appointed person(s).
• Consider how you would like your assets divided, bearing in mind your obligations to people who are close to you.
• Visit your solicitor to discuss your plans and to allow him/her to prepare your will. S/he should advise you in terms of the tax implications of leaving legacies to family, friends or charities.

Please contact Cliona Maughan in confidence on +353-86-1026075 or email: clionamaughan@dubsimon.ie to discuss the necessary steps of what needs to be done to include us in your wishes.

If you haven’t made your Will yet:

You have a number of choices of bequest you may like to make:

• A gift of money in your Will — You can choose to leave us a specific amount of money in your Will. This is called a pecuniary gift.
• A share of your estate — once you have taken care of your loved ones, you can leave a share of, or the remainder of your estate to us. This is called a residuary gift.
• A specific gift in your Will — You can choose to leave a specific item, such as property stocks, shares, furniture, jewellery etc. This is called a specific gift.

If you already have a Will:

You can easily update it with a codicil with your solicitor – an additional clause that includes your bequest, and complies with all the requirements of a valid will. A codicil needs to be witnessed and signed in the same way as the original will, and should be kept in the same place as the original will.