Legal name for a Will

LG27

I am helping my Aunt with writing her will (using Which online wills). Her name on her birth certificate is different to that she has used all her life (so that's on her pension, title deeds on her house). Her whole life she has been known only by her middle name and her first name from her birth certificate has been her middle name. For the will should we use her name as per her birth certificate (she has never held a passport or driving license) and add 'usually known as....' with the way she been called all her life? Thanks!

Yorkshireman99

LG27 wrote: »

I am helping my Aunt with writing her will (using Which online wills). Her name on her birth certificate is different to that she has used all her life (so that's on her pension, title deeds on her house). Her whole life she has been known only by her middle name and her first name from her birth certificate has been her middle name. For the will should we use her name as per her birth certificate (she has never held a passport or driving license) and add 'usually known as....' with the way she been called all her life? Thanks!

Use the name she is usually known under. Are you sure Which wills is the best idea? Usually consulting a solicitor is better.

Keep_pedalling

Unless her estate is small and is made up of liquid assets only, forget this and get her to make an appointment with a local solicitor and get it drawn up properly.

Margot123

Don't be tempted to make a saving on a do-it-yourself will. These things only spell disaster later on when family are dealing with grief, and at the same time struggling to prove the validity of the will.
A local solicitor would only charge about £100-£150 for a basic will, and many do free home visits for elderly and disabled people.
If it's a simple estate, then don't appoint the solicitor to do administration.

TBagpuss

I agree with the previous advice that you'd be better to encourage her to see a solicitor (not will writer) and get this done properly.

However, if she insists on doing it herself then it would be reasonable to write the will so that (if the name she uses is Jane Elizabeth Smith and her birth certificate says Elizabeth Jane Smith) then say "Jane Elizabeth Smith, (also known as Elizabeth Jane Smith)".

The key thing is that she is sufficiently identified.