Many people avoid writing a will as they find it to be a rather morbid, sometimes upsetting, concept. This is understandable, of course, however not writing one actually has the potential to do more harm than good. Unfortunately, writing a will isn’t always one of those things that you can put off until ‘closer to the time’, since the time in which a will is needed is predominantly undetermined for most people.
This is why it is imperative to have everything organised and in place sooner rather than later to avoid excessive stress for your loved ones in the unfortunate event of your passing. We’ve listed some reasons below as to why it is important to write a will.
When someone dies, this can be an extremely emotional upsetting time for their loved ones. On top of having to navigate the process of mourning, you would not wish for your loved ones to have to go through the stress of organising your estate without input or direction.
If you die without a valid will, then your estate must be shared out according to certain rules, known as the rules of intestacy. These rules mean that only married or civil partners and some other close relatives can inherit your estate. Not only can this be a lengthy process, but it can also result in disputes within the family - especially if you verbally express certain wishes for how your estate should be distributed and these are not respected by some family members.
Writing a will allows for this process to be much smoother and fairer, allowing your loved ones to properly mourn without added stress and priorities taking up their time.
If you wish for certain members of your family and/or friends to receive specific assets from your estate, then writing a will allows you to name them beneficiaries of these, as well as ensuring that they actually receive these in the event of your passing. In addition to this, if there is anyone that you do not want to receive any form of inheritance from your estate, then this can also be stipulated in your will.
This way, you can rest assured that when it is time for your will to be executed, it will be done according to your wishes as per legal requirement.
If you’re ready to write your will but unsure where to begin or what needs to be included, then you could benefit from the assistance of will and probate solicitors, such as those at Almy & Thomas Solicitors.
We understand that will writing can be difficult for some people, which is why our team of trained professionals deal with your will and inheritance needs with compassion and empathy.
Whether you need probate or will assistance, or help setting up a trust, get in touch with us today to set up an appointment with one of our experienced solicitors.