Why have a will?
It may be obvious to many people, but will writers are still challenged over why some people even need to consider a will. Here are some simple examples to show you why.
1. Who is going to pick up the pieces after you die? A will is a legal document that gives another person, or people, the right to take care of all the paperwork and necessary things after you die. Without a will, there can be disputes as to who should care of things, and this can be very stressful and upsetting to your family left behind.
2. A will disposes of your assets according to your wishes. Without a will, you may find that the people you want money or assets to go to do not receive them. This is very common where a will is not in place. You may even find that your family resort to suing each other for the right to your assets - something becoming more common between a spouse and your children, where the children inherit part of your estate instead of your spouse inheriting everything outright.
3. A will can nominate guardians for your children. Without a will your children are at risk of being taken into local authority care while it is decided who should look after them permanently.
4. A will can be created cheaply and quickly. Once you have a will it will be valid until you marry, divorce or write a new will.
5. A will is not for you - it is for your loved ones! Ask the people who are likely to receive your will whether you should write one!
6. There are countless stories about people facing huge hardship or injustice because a will was not in place. Don't become a news story yourself.
7. You can tell people how you want to be disposed of. Some people prefer to be buried or some cremated. A will will let your executors know what you want to happen.
8. A will can save a lot of time sorting things out. Without one, there will be many more potential issues. For example, a bank may not release a savings account to a spouse automatically. This can lead to long delays while probate is sorted out.
9. A will can save lots of tax. A properly written will can help you organise your tax issues in a better way.
1. Who is going to pick up the pieces after you die? A will is a legal document that gives another person, or people, the right to take care of all the paperwork and necessary things after you die. Without a will, there can be disputes as to who should care of things, and this can be very stressful and upsetting to your family left behind.
2. A will disposes of your assets according to your wishes. Without a will, you may find that the people you want money or assets to go to do not receive them. This is very common where a will is not in place. You may even find that your family resort to suing each other for the right to your assets - something becoming more common between a spouse and your children, where the children inherit part of your estate instead of your spouse inheriting everything outright.
3. A will can nominate guardians for your children. Without a will your children are at risk of being taken into local authority care while it is decided who should look after them permanently.
4. A will can be created cheaply and quickly. Once you have a will it will be valid until you marry, divorce or write a new will.
5. A will is not for you - it is for your loved ones! Ask the people who are likely to receive your will whether you should write one!
6. There are countless stories about people facing huge hardship or injustice because a will was not in place. Don't become a news story yourself.
7. You can tell people how you want to be disposed of. Some people prefer to be buried or some cremated. A will will let your executors know what you want to happen.
8. A will can save a lot of time sorting things out. Without one, there will be many more potential issues. For example, a bank may not release a savings account to a spouse automatically. This can lead to long delays while probate is sorted out.
9. A will can save lots of tax. A properly written will can help you organise your tax issues in a better way.