As the use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) continues to rise in professional and everyday life, new research by the Association of Lifetime Lawyers has revealed that 72% of UK adults, aged between 30 to 34, would consider using AI to prepare their Will.
Although it might be tempting to take advantage of technological advancements as a “cheap and easy” solution; preparing your own Will with AI, without proper legal advice, is fraught with risks and could end up costing you more in the long term.
A properly drawn Will ensures that, upon death, your assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes. Based upon the use of standard multiple-choice questions, some AI tools can produce a generic, semi personalised Will. However, these Wills are often basic template documents, that fail to consider individual intricacies such as blended families, beneficiaries with special needs, a business or overseas assets.
The above-mentioned research tested some AI Will drafting platforms and concluded that some of the Wills produced contained confusing structures, inaccurate wording, had a poor grasp of legal requirements, or a lack of understanding of the knock-on effect of key decisions.
In addition, there are strict legal rules surrounding the preparation and signing of Wills, that AI may not account for. It is vital to ensure that Wills not only meet the basic legal requirements for validity, but also that there are no mistakes in language, issues surrounding the construction of clauses, or critical oversights.
Unfortunately, errors in Wills are often not picked up until after death, by which point costly Court proceedings may be the only option for rectification of the Will. Mistakes or confusing language within a Will can also spark disputes between beneficiaries, all of which can lead to lengthy delays in the administration of the Estate and additional legal costs.
It is also worth considering that AI tools do not provide personalised tax planning advice, whereas a solicitor can provide tailored and up to date advice, about structuring a Will in a Tax efficient manner. A professional advisor can also have wider conversations about asset protection, the use of Trusts, and Lasting Powers of Attorney, all of which are key considerations of Estate Planning.
Whilst AI certainly has its place in certain aspects of our work and home life, it cannot take account of complex human relationships, nor can it replace the years of professional expertise and experience that comes from instructing a solicitor to draft your Will.
Amy Morris
Wills, Trusts & Tax Senior Associate Solicitor
Amy is a highly qualified and experienced Senior Associate Solicitor, specialising in various areas of succession planning and estate administration.
