A LEGAL company has launched a service which offers free will reviews for residents of West Cumbria.

Staff at the Dovenby branch of Cartmell Shepherd are welcoming local residents to join them for a 30 minute consultation.

They have decided to offer this service because many people unwittingly have wills which are out of date and no longer fit for purpose.

The consequences can be seismic, with families potentially plunged into chaos because the will of a loved one has not been updated.

Claire Wilson works from Cartmells’ West Cumbria office and deals with all aspects of wills, trusts, Lasting Power of Attorneys, Court of Protection and administration of estates.

She said: “The main purpose of this exercise is to ensure that people’s wills are in good order. If there are issues, then we will be happy to advise the client on their options, and of course, carry out any work required if they wish.

“Keeping your will up to date is really important; so many things can affect it, for example a change in family circumstances, marital status, the number of children or grandchildren you have, or if the executor of your original will dies. That is to name just a few of the things we look for. In addition, we can also discuss any concerns you have about care home fees.

“This is a complex area of the law and it’s really important you get it right and keep your will updated, Not doing so could lead to a great deal of undue stress and expense for your family at a time when they are already grieving.”

If you decide to make amendments based upon any advice given, Cartmells will offer a £50 voucher towards the costs of doing so or towards the costs of a Lasting Power of Attorney.

The free will review offer runs until the 21st December 2018. Contact the Dovenby Office for further details.