FREE WILL WORTH £90 FOR EVERY READER
INSIDE TODAY IN ASSOCIATION WITH MAGGIE’S CANCER CHARITY
‘If you haven’t made a will, assets go to blood relatives, even if you’re estranged’
JUST 15 MINUTES ONLINE CAN BRING YOU PEACE OF MIND AND RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON YOUR LOVED ONES WHEN THEY’RE GRIEVING
WE ALL lead such busy lives these days that writing a will can be the last thing on our minds, especially if you’re in the prime of your life and death seems a long way off. You would not be alone: over 60% of the UK population doesn’t have a will as they have not got around to it.
The potential pitfalls of dying without a will are huge and can be a big burden, and additional expense, on your friends and family when they’re grieving.
Without a will, there’s no guidance on your final resting place, how you want your things divided up, or who should take care of your children or pets. It can prolong your family’s grief and cause arguments with irreparable damage. You lose control over your wishes, and official intestacy rules decide your fate instead.
Writing a will doesn’t have to be daunting. It only takes 15 minutes online with Farewill, who are now offering free wills to every reader in association with Maggie’s cancer support charity. A will is vital if you want your final wishes to be granted when you die.
It may sound morbid, but dying could be one of the largest financial transactions of your life. You want to make sure that everything you have is inherited by who you want. Without a will you don’t have that choice. Instead, intestacy rules dictate who gets what.
Having a valid will is all the more important if you’re single or not married to your partner — if you die without a will, your property and assets go to your direct blood relatives, even if you’re estranged from them. Without planning, your partner could end up being ejected out of the home they shared with you.
If you have children and you have been married more than once or had more than one longterm relationship, it’s vital you write a will, otherwise whole chunks of your life could be ignored.
When you die, your estate could be subject to inheritance tax, payable by your executors. Writing a will lets you explore the options available to you to reduce the amount your estate might pay.
It’s also a great chance to make a donation to your favourite charities, whose vital services rely heavily on gifts in wills.
If you have children, or are thinking of starting a family, you can use your will to appoint guardians. This is important should the unexpected happen. You’ll rest easier knowing your children will be brought up by the people you feel most comfortable with, whether it’s family or friends.
Writing a will is a good chance to discuss what you’d like done with your body, too. There are many options, including cremation, donation to science, or burial. Dialogue with your family can clarify your wishes.
Writing a will is also the perfect opportunity to leave poignant notes to family and friends about what they meant to you and why you’ve left them certain things. No matter how little or how much you have, thinking about your intentions and wishes and writing a will can bring you peace of mind.