Killik & Co has revealed the number of enquiries it has received regarding wills since the coronavirus outbreak has risen by approximately 50% compared to April 2019.

The investment management firm suggested the trend was likely due to people being “sadly confronted with their own mortality” as the death toll from Covid-19 rises, as well as many around the UK having more time in lockdown to “tackle life admin” that they have been putting off.

Last week, the National Will Register reported it was starting to see will searches being performed from those suffering a bereavement as a result of Covid-19.

A spokesperson from the National Will Register suggested that people would “inevitably” find themselves in financially vulnerable situations, and be required to start the probate process immediately to access their inheritance “sooner rather than later”.

Killik & Co head of wealth planning, Svenja Keller, suggested the increase in will enquiries the firm had encountered “fitted with the statistics” that only 40% of people in the UK have a will.

“We also see a lot of people whose wills are so out of date it’s just easier to draft a new one,” Keller commented.
 
“If you need to start looking at your will, now is not too late to start putting the wheels in motion. I would suggest at this time at least making a start and engaging somebody to take instructions and create a draft.”
 
Keller acknowledged that finalising a will could be tricky without being able to hold face-to-face meetings but also highlighted that the Government was looking at relaxing the rules on signing wills amid the ongoing crisis.

“It currently requires two witnesses to be present when a will is signed, which is difficult while we remain in lockdown, so allowing this to be done via video is one of the considerations,” Keller continued.

“That said, the rules – as set out in the Wills Act 1837 – still apply and if the will is not able to be properly executed, people should wait until social distancing measures have been relaxed. 
 
“People should review their wills more often than they think. Not just when their own circumstances change but when those of potential beneficiaries change or when there is new legislation that might affect previous advice. Our general advice is that it is good practice to review your will once a year, regardless of the circumstances.”

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