Where there’s a will

More and more these days we are being encouraged to make a will and state our funeral requests, organ donations etc in that will. This is totally pointless because by the time the will is read – at least three to seven days after burial or cremation – those requests are totally irrelevant.

I have never heard of a will being read either before a burial or cremation. Lawyers need to tell clients this and make sure they have talked with the family and told them what their wishes are.

Basically the will just tells the family what they have or haven’t inherited. When we make a will we all need to give a copy to all family members and tell all family members what our wishes are. That way there can’t be any disputes and whatever/however we have said will be honoured.

Our mother made her will but never told anyone, not even our dad, what was in it. She wanted our youngest sister to have her wedding and engagement rings, but because no-one knew, she was buried with them so they are gone forever and that is so sad because my sister would have absolutely cherished them.

With this euthanasia bill probably coming into effect, talking to all the family re wishes for end of life is absolutely necessary. And God help all those elderly folk, special needs folk, mental health folk, who have no family to help or advise them, and those folk who have a bullying and abusive family who just want to get rid of them. And sadly there seems to be many out there who would sign papers just to be rid ‘‘of the silly old bugger’’ but of course ‘‘it’s for their own sake’’. So, people, think long and hard before you vote on this referendum.

M. Matthews, New Plymouth

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