Max George – The Importance of Making a Will

We have all heard the recent story of Max George, member of the band; The Wanted, who suffered a serious health scare and required emergency surgery to have a pacemaker fitted at the age of just 36.

Max had a number of reasons to have a valid Will in place, for example:

• The nature of his career means he is likely to have a number of assets, including the royalties generated from the band’s music.
• His bandmate Tom Parker died at 33 as a result of brain cancer. Tom was unable to make a valid Will due to his condition, leaving his family to navigate a complex legal situation.
• Max has been living with his partner, Maisie Smith, for two years. Contrary to popular belief, unmarried partners are not automatically entitled to inherit from a person’s estate.

Yet, in a moment of panic and without having made a Will previously, he decided to type out his wishes in the notes app on his phone from his hospital bed.

Despite his beliefs, the notes on his phone would not have been sufficient to make a legally valid Will. For a Will to be valid, it must be in writing and signed in the presence of two independent witnesses, who must also sign the document in the testator’s (the person who is making the Will) presence.

So, had the worst happened, Max would not have had a valid Will and his estate would have been distributed under the intestacy rules, meaning he would have no control over who benefited from his estate, not to mention the additional delays and expenses that would be experienced during an already difficult time for his loved ones.

The Law Commission are currently considering Will reform, with proposed changes to include recognising the validity of electronic Wills. A draft Bill is expected to be introduced in April this year, but until any changes in law come into effect, the position is simple – electronic Wills are not considered to be legally valid.

Max’s story is an important reminder that none of us know what is around the corner, and making a valid Will is the most important thing we can do to ensure that our wishes are recorded and legally enforceable. Do not leave it until it is too late.

At Wolferstans, we have a team of experts who are here to make the process of making a Will is straightforward and stress-free. Whether you wish to make a new Will or want to review your current Will to ensure that your wishes are up to date, we are here to help.

Contact us today on 01752 292201 to speak to a member of our friendly team who can book you or a loved one in for an appointment.