Don’t think you need a Will? Here are some of the main reasons people give for not writing a Will – and why they are so wrong!
“It’s too expensive.”
Not writing a Will could cost your family thousands of pounds in lost inheritance and legal fees. Just imagine the mess that not writing a Will could leave your loved ones to sort out along with the heartbreak, stress and considerable cost that would entail. If you die without a Will, your estate is distributed in accordance with the Rules of Intestacy. This means that your spouse may not inherit everything and a long-term cohabiting partner won’t get a penny. If you have young children, they can be taken into care by Social Services until the Court appoints a guardian. Making a Will is a small price to pay for protecting your loved ones.
“My partner will get everything anyway.”
Not necessarily! In particular, if you are simply cohabiting, your partner is unlikely to get a penny and may be turfed out of house and home. Even married spouses and civil partners may not get everything. What if you were both to die together? Who would look after your children? In a Will you can appoint guardians for your children. Without a guardian appointment, your children would be taken into care by Social Services until the Court decides who should look after them.
“I’m too busy, I’ll do it when I have time.”
And when will that be? Far too many people put off making a Will until it is too late. Do you really want your loved ones to remember you for leaving them with a time-consuming, heartbreaking and expensive muddle to sort out because you could not find the time to write a Will? It only takes a couple of hours to write a Will and you can do it all from home.
“I haven’t got anything worth leaving.”
You’d be surprised at how much you may be worth, especially when dead! And you probably have some treasured possessions that you’d rather went to someone who would appreciate them rather than having to be sold off cheaply. In any case, Wills aren’t just about possessions; for example, they can be used to appoint guardians for children.
“My life is complicated, I don’t know where to start.”
All the more reason to make a Will now! Family relationships today are often complicated and can lead to unforseen consequences when someone dies. For example, if you are separated from your spouse and living with a new partner with whom you’ve had children, without a Will, your estranged spouse could inherit everything and your new family nothing. No matter how complex your circumstances, I can guide you through the process of writing a Will that exactly reflects your wishes.
“I don’t want to think about dying.”
This is often the underlying reason to all the other excuses. Some find the thought of dying distressing, some even feel they are tempting fate. No one likes to contemplate their own death but no one knows what tomorrow may bring. If we care for those we love, we need to prepare for what is bound to happen at some unknown time in the future. Many people find writing a Will a liberating experience and find comfort in the knowledge that they have secured the future for their loved ones.