When and why you should update your Will

* Marriage/divorce: all or part of your old Will will be invalid

* Trouble in marriage/partnership of adult children * Grandchildren grow older and couple/person want to benefit them in their own right even if Residue from a Will still passes to their parents.

* Resolution to raise age at which children/grandchildren benefit from 18 to ? because they are deemed unable to cope at 18

* Severance of Tenancy undertaken for Care cost risk makes new Wills necessary to prevent property being returned to spouse/partner. * Choice of guardian(s) needs amending - parents now too old to cope with teenagers or school requirements make local guardians necessary.

* Acquisition of additional wealth makes use of each Inheritance Tax (IHT ) free band desirable for the first time.

Change in structure of Inheritance Tax makes further or new IHT planning necessary.

* Separation/marriage difficulty makes "Residue to spouse" suddenly inappropriate.

* Need to assure housing situation of adult child who will not leave home or who unexpectedly returns on relationship break-up.

* Need to bring in offspring's or own stepchildren to class of beneficiaries previously restricted to "children" or "grandchildren".

* About to go on holiday, especially long haul and/or imminent surgery/illness. * Arrival of children makes appointment of guardian necessary for the first time. * Exclusion of beneficiaries under Intestacy e.g. child fathered in youth makes a Will necessary.