Writing a Will is the best way to ensure that you have some say over what happens to your estate and your assets after you pass away.
However, to write a Will, you will need to prove your identity.
There is a very good reason for this – it is a Will writer’s duty to ensure that you really are who you say you are, and that you are in a position to dictate what should happen with specific assets, like a property, after death.
That means proving both your identity AND where you live. Thankfully, there are many different ways that you can do this.
Proof of identity
Any of the following are generally acceptable as proof of identity:
- Birth certificate
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Armed forces ID card
- Residence permit (for non-EU citizens)
- HM Revenue & Customs tax document (such as a self assessment)
- Firearms certificate
- Police or other government department ID card
- Benefit book or notification letter outlining the right to benefits
Proof of address
Generally, Will writing professionals will accept any of the following as proof of residency, so long as you haven’t already used them as proof of your identity as well:
- A household utility bill (such as gas and electricity)
- Driving licence
- Bank statement
- Benefit book or notification letter outlining the right to benefits
- House or car insurance certificate
- Council tax statement
- Local authority rent card or tenancy agreement
With all of these documents, it’s important to remember that you will generally have to produce the originals, rather than copies.
Rob Managing Director from Pembroke Will Writers said:
“A Will is the best possible way to ensure that your assets are divided exactly as you want them to be after you die. But in order to write a Will, you need to be able to prove your identity, so make sure you have your documents in order well in advance.”