Google Adwords 0808 278 1398 Bing Ads 0808 274 4482

My mother is thinking of making a will but she forget things all the time these days, and often gets confused — will it be valid?

Your mother’s will is not valid if she is mentally incapable when she makes it. Often someone is mentally incapable because of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. However, the fact that someone has a mental disability or disorder does not in itself mean that they are mentally incapable of making a will.

To draw up a valid will, your mother must understand what a will is, the effect of making one, the extent and value of her property, and any expectations her family, friends or others might have that they will be left something. If she is only mentally incapable at certain times, she can make a valid will during a lucid period. It is wise to have a doctor or psychiatrist there who certifies that she was capable at the time.

Your mother should also consider making lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) while she has the mental capacity to do so. If she becomes unable to deal with her finances or make decisions about her health and welfare, this means someone she trusts — the ‘attorney’ she appoints in her LPAs — can deal with these areas for her.

Related FAQs

Expert legal advice you can rely on,
get in touch today


Please let us know you are not a robot

Your local legal experts


Why QualitySolicitors?

With QualitySolicitors your first initial assessment is free, so you can call us without worrying about being charged for a call you might not have actually needed to make. And because we place our clients are at the heart of everything we do, we make these five customer service promises to make sure you'll feel properly looked after.

This is why, in the first instance, most people looking for legal help in relation to a 'Home And Property' call QualitySolicitors for a Free Initial Assessment over the phone before requesting our Ask the Legal Expert service; which is an introductory 45-minute face-to-face consultation for £99.