It’s a conversation that most of us shy away from; what happens after we’re gone? But while it might feel uncomfortable, planning for the inevitable is one of the most responsible and loving things that you can do for yourself and loved ones. At the heart of such important planning for the end of life is having an up to date and active will…

Often thought of as something that is only for the sick or elderly, the truth is, a will is a fundamental document for everyone. It’s your voice when you can no longer speak, ensuring that your wishes are respected and your loved ones are taken care of, not burdened, during an already difficult time after suffering a loss.

What Age Should I Get A Will?

It’s a good idea to write a will as soon as you have any assets, dependents, or strong opinions about what happens to your belongings at the end of your life. It is a sensible choice to make at any stage of your adult life.

• When you turn 18: Legally, you can make a will. If you own anything of value, even just a savings account, it’s a good time to consider it.
• When you start a family: This is perhaps the most crucial time when people make a will, as it allows you to appoint guardians for your children, ensuring that they are cared for by people who you trust.
• When you buy property: Your home is likely to be your biggest asset in life. A will dictates who inherits it.
• When you get married or enter a civil partnership: Marriage often revokes a previous will, so it’s essential to update or create a new one whenever you marry or divorce.
• When you accumulate significant assets: Whether it’s investments, a business, or valuable possessions, a will ensures that they all go to where you intend them to.

Essentially, if you care about what happens to your money, your property, and your loved ones after you’re gone, then it’s time to think about writing or updating your will.

What Should I List In My Will?

A will is a comprehensive document that covers various aspects of your estate and wishes. Here are the key elements to consider including:

• Executor(s): The person/people responsible for carrying out the instructions in your will, paying off debts and distributing your assets. You want to choose someone trustworthy, organised and willing to take on this important role.
• Beneficiaries: Who will inherit your assets. This can include family members, friends, charities, or any other individual or organisation that you wish to benefit. You can be very specific about what each person will receive.
• Specific Gifts / Legacies: If you want to leave a particular item, such as a piece of jewellery, a car, or a set sum of money, to a specific person then you can detail these specific gifts in your will.
• Residuary Estate: This refers to everything left over after specific gifts, debts, and taxes have been paid. You can specify who inherits the remainder of your estate – many people choose their favourite charity.
• Guardians for Minor Children: If you have children under 18yrs old, this is arguably the most important part of your will. You can nominate who you want to be their legal guardian in the event of your death. Without this, the courts will decide, which may not align with your wishes.
• Funeral Wishes: While it is not legally binding, your will is a good place to express your preferences for your funeral, including whether you want burial or cremation. This can be a great comfort to your family to know that your last wishes have been met.
• Pet Care: If you have pets, you can make provisions for their care, including appointing a guardian for them and even leaving funds for their upkeep.
• Digital Assets: You may wish to consider what you want to happen to your online accounts, social media and digital photos storage for loved ones to have access or manage them.

How Often Should I Update My Will?

A will isn’t a set it and forget it document. Life changes, and so your will should reflect those changes. It is recommended that you review your will regularly, ideally every 3-5 years, or whenever a significant life event occurs. Key times in life when people update their will include:

• Marriage or Civil Partnership: This often invalidates a previous will.
• Divorce or Separation: You may wish to change who inherits your assets.
• Birth of Children or Grandchildren: You may want to include new relatives as beneficiaries, or appoint new guardians.
• Death of an Executor or Beneficiary: You’ll need to nominate replacements.
• Significant Change in Assets: If you buy or sell property, inherit money, or your financial situation changes drastically.
• Change in Relationships: If you fall out with a beneficiary or want to add someone new.
• Changes in Tax Laws: These can impact the effectiveness of your will.

Dying Intestate: What Happens If I Don’t Have A Will When I Die?

This is where things can get complicated, stressful, and potentially very costly for loved ones. If we die without a valid will, we are said to have died intestate, and our estate will be distributed according to the laws of intestacy in the country for which we reside. In the UK, these rules are rigid and may not align with our wishes at all.

• Spouse/Civil Partner and Children: Your spouse or civil partner might not automatically inherit everything. The rules often dictate a specific split between your spouse and children, which can lead to your spouse not receiving enough to live comfortably or even having to sell the family home.
• No Spouse/Civil Partner, but Children: Your children will inherit your estate. If they are minors, their inheritance will be held in trust until they reach 18, and someone will need to be appointed by the court to manage it.
• No Spouse/Civil Partner or Children: Your estate typically goes to other relatives in a strict order: parents, then siblings, then grandparents, then aunts and uncles, and so on.
• No Living Relatives: In the worst-case scenario, if you have no living relatives, your entire estate could pass to the Crown / government) which is known as “bona vacantia.”

The consequences of this may means that your last wishes are ignored, your most prized possessions may go to someone who you never intended them too, and a beloved charity may receive nothing. Without clear instructions, disagreements among family members are common, leading to emotional distress and potential legal battles. Your spouse or partner might not receive enough to maintain their lifestyle, or even keep the family home. The process of dealing with an intestate estate is often longer and more expensive due to legal complexities and the need for court intervention. And if you have minor children at the time of death, the courts will decide who becomes their guardian, which may not be your preferred choice.

Take Control: Make A Will Today

Creating a will is not about dwelling on death; it’s about empowering yourself and protecting the people who matter most to you. It’s an act of love and responsibility that provides peace of mind for both you and your family alike. Please don’t leave your legacy to chance. Speak to a qualified solicitor or a reputable will writing service to draft a legally sound will that reflects your unique circumstances and wishes. It’s one of the most important investments that you’ll ever make and shouldn’t be overlooked.

WillWorx: Professional Will Writing Services

I used a professional will writing and estates planning service called WillWorx online to write my will, as I really appreciate their one-to-one consultation service, which allowed me to have a zoom call directly with my personal will writer in order to walk through each part of the process, step by step. From discussing the allocation of jewellery, shoes, pets, artwork and savings to property, family businesses, funeral wishes and suitable custodians for my children, each consideration was given the time and space that it needed to distribute assets however I choose.

As I have two children, I wanted to be able to leave whatever I have at the time of my passing to my two children, divided equally among them, rather than allocating specific items assigned to specific loved ones. The thought of updating a will as and when you move home, change cars, update art collections or purchase assets over the coming years seemed like such a headache to me, as it was something that I wanted to do once and then put away safely rather than dwell on it.

I understand that many wish to add grandchildren into their wills in years to come, allocate specific treasures and special possessions to specific people knowing how meaningful it is, and maybe even remove people from their will if marriages end or people fall out. And whilst I see that all of these reasons for updating and amending wills are entirely valid, I hope that my two children will remain lifelong loving and supportive siblings with the ability to legally divide my assets between them after I pass. It’s the most straight-forward way that my parents have handled their will, and the way that I too wish to handle mine.

WillWorx offer a professional online will writing service within the UK allowing you to make your will as no-frills or detailed and specific as you wish. With a comprehensive range of online will writing services, estate planning solutions, and inheritance protection options, their services are designed to secure your family’s future with complete peace of mind.

My will appointment was a surprisingly uplifting and reassuring experience, rather than being filled with doom and gloom. Whilst I can’t say that I’ve ever felt enthusiastic about considering my own death, I recognise the need to ensure that everything is properly in place for the future of my children, as well as considering wishes for my funeral and messages left to loved ones. It was a cathartic experience to speak to my will writer, which made the process of getting my ducks in a row a positive step for peace of mind and future security for my children.

Regulated by the Society of Will Writers, their professionalism and knowledge around will writing made the entire experience so quick and easy for me to do from the comfort of my home via a call. Within a matter of days my will was posted to my home address along with instructions on how to have it signed and witnessed to make it legally binding, and how best to keep it safe and accessible for which it is needed. Whilst it was something I’d put off for many years, I’m relieved to have given it some serious thought now, as will writing isn’t just required for distributing your assets, but protecting what you care about most in life. Whether it’s for the sake of your children, pets, business, or estate planning, it doesn’t hurt to cross the t’s and dot the i’s of life. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

www.willworx.co.uk