The New Normal? Leeds Day Solicitors

The new normal?

Since the Prime Minister announced lockdown on Monday 23rd March 2020, we at Leeds Day and many businesses across the country have had to adapt to a different style of working.

Does this mean we are not offering legal services?

We are still offering all our legal services. As time moves on we are utilising technology more and more and the emphasis on persons preparing wills is ever more pressing. Many of our staff members are working remotely from home on a secure network to ensure that we are still offering our high standards of services. Our staff can still be contacted by phone during their normal working hours. As our offices are not currently open to clients, we are offering meetings via Zoom so you can still arrange meetings to discuss your current matters or new matters i.e. preparation of your Will. We do not need to see you to confirm your instructions but will need to speak with you directly and so the best way for this to currently work is via telephone or Zoom. There are various safety measures the firm has implemented to ensure your matter is kept confidential at all times. In respect of identification, we are currently conducting e-verifications so there is no need to visit our offices to provide your documents of identity.

I already have a Will, do I need to change this?

As we have seen with the current pandemic, life is always changing and so you may have prepared your Will some time ago and now your circumstances have changed. You may have a new partner, further grandchildren or your assets have increased. It is usually advisable to look at your Will regularly or after any significant event and so if you think you need to review it please get in touch.

How do I execute my Will safely?

Given the current climate we will send your Will to you to sign at home. We will also send out an instruction sheet outlining how to execute your Will in line with the Wills Act 1837 to ensure that your Will is valid. Once you have read over your final Will, you will need to seek two independent witnesses to witness you signing your Will. You cannot have a person who you named in the Will be a witness to your Will as this may invalidate any appointment/gift made and may potentially invalidate your whole Will. It is best practice to not have a family member witness your signature as this may cause issues down the line. The current government guidelines state that we must adhere to a 2m distance from persons who are not living in our households. This may be set to change but we currently advise that you execute your Will safely in the following ways: • Ensure each party has a separate pen to use • All parties should abide by the 2m distance • Execute your Will outdoors • Witnesses need to be physically present in order for the Will to be valid • Wear gloves and masks (as per government guidelines) • Arrange for your Solicitor to supervise signing of your will using electronic means if you wish If for any reason you do not believe you can execute your Will safely, please get in contact with us so we can advise further.

For further advice on preparing your Will, please contact Leeds Day on 0844 567 2222 or email wills@leedsday.co.uk or visit our website www.leedsday.co.uk

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