If you made a Will prior to your marriage taking place, you will need to check the contents with us to see if your will is still valid, or if a new one will be needed.
The standard procedure is that any will made prior to the advent of a new marriage or civil union, will be automatically revoked. Should you not make a new will after marriage, you will die “intestate” as none of your previous wills were ever in existence, and the Administration Act 1969 will determine how your estate is to be distributed.
Wills are important documents which allow for you to determine who you would like to receive your assets and personal belongings after you die. Without having a valid will at the date of your death, you will not have a choice as to this distribution and legislation will decide this for you.
A way around this if you are updating your will prior to your marriage, is to specifically state that the will is made in “contemplation” of the particular marriage, noting the name of your partner/fiancé within the clause. The inclusion of this clause will mean that the marriage will not revoke your will, and it will remain in place thereafter.
If you are unsure about whether your will remains in place following your marriage, please contact us to review your will and update this if required. If you are planning on getting married in the future, upon updating your will please let us know of your pending marriage and we can ensure the will is drafted in contemplation.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and not intended as a substitute for specific professional advice on any matter and should not be relied upon for that purpose. We do not give financial, taxation or investment advice and nothing in this article is intended as such.