Wills and estate planning: Your questions

Alan Barr, Jan Wright and Jonathan Conder were the experts

BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Monday, 30 October 2006, at 1502 GMT.

Less than half of us have an up-to-date will and few people realise that without one, the state will decide what to do with your assets.

On Monday's programme, presenter Paul Lewis took your questions on wills and planning an estate and put them to a panel of expert guests.

Do you really need a will? If so, how do you go about preparing one? How much does it cost? And do you need to use a solicitor?

How can you make the most of the assets you leave behind? What are the tax implications?

And how does the law differ in Scotland?

Paul Lewis was joined by:

• Alan Barr, partner at Brodies and director of legal practice at the University of Edinburgh

• Jan Wright, partner at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors

• Jonathan Conder, partner, Macfarlanes

Read the programme transcript

For the month of November, nearly 2,000 solicitors throughout the UK are offering to waive their fee to draw up a will in return for a donation to charity.

More information about Will Aid can be found on its website

There is also a hotline number to find your local Will Aid participating solicitor 0870 6060 239

Producer: Jessica Laugharne
Presenter: Paul Lewis