Beneficiaries

hamer

Hi,
Is it necessary to state beneficiaries addresses at will writing stage or can this be followed up when the will is being executed.

GSS20

Executed a will last year and no  addresses of beneficiaries stated, only full names. Executors addresses were included though.

hamer

GSS20 thanks for that, how did you go about locating the beneficiaries.

p00hsticks

I'm in the middle of executing a will with around 40 beneficiaries - no addresses were provided in the will (it was drawn up quite quickly following a terminal prognosis). I knew around half of the beneficiaries addresses already. The other beneficiaries I located via the deceased's phone contacts / facebook page / address book and asked them to supply / confirm their addresses (e-mail and physical). Having said that, I'm hoping that when I'm in a position to distribute the estate it can mostly be done via bank transfer rather than snail mailing cheques.

hamer

Bet that was a job and a half p00hsticks

Mojisola

hamer said:

Hi,
Is it necessary to state beneficiaries addresses at will writing stage or can this be followed up when the will is being executed.

As the will becomes public after probate, it's probably best not to list all the addresses.  If the will is left with a solicitor, you can leave a list of addresses to be kept with the will - that can be updated if necessary without paying to change the will.

GSS20

hamer said:

GSS20 thanks for that, how did you go about locating the beneficiaries.

They were my siblings but not close so just got addresses from other members and reaching out on messenger.

bouicca21

My so,I it or said I should put the addresses of beneficiaries (who were also executors) into the will,even though I told him those addresses were temporary.

TBagpuss

It can be helpful to include addresses as they can help identify who was meant - particularly if the person has a common name - there might be a lot of John Smiths but only one who used to live as 12 Acacia Avenue.

However, people do move, so for your own will it's helpful to keep a list and update it periodically - cheaper and easier than changing your will every year or two, and makes life easier for your executors.

OF course, it's more of an issue if you have beneficiaries who are not members of your family / not personally know to your executors - "My friend Jane Doe" is harder to accurately identify than "My brother, William Jones"  - "My friend Jane Doe (Nee Smith) of 12 Acacia Avenue is easier to find, and even if she is no longer living at Acacia Avenue having the address give your executor somewhere to start looking.