Estate Planning During COVID-19

First Published in The Royal Gazette, Legally Speaking, April 2020

With people working from home and being surrounded by their spouse, children, and in some cases parents, the prospect of they or a loved one contracting the coronavirus and how it might impact their family, is a natural topic of conversation.

It is always best to be prepared and if that involves encouraging your spouse to discuss your estate planning, this is the time to do so.

Anyone making a Will should be exercising their own free will in doing so. Sufficient mental capacity is essential as a person must understand the nature of their assets, any claims against their estate and to whom they wish to distribute their assets. There must be extreme care and caution to ensure that there is no undue influence or pressure from other persons, so instructions must be provided while all faculties are in order.