Making a Will:Why “Later” Often Becomes Too Late

Most people knowthey “should” make a will. It sits on the same mental shelf as sorting the loftor finally updating your CV: important, but not urgent — until suddenly it is.

In practice, willsget put off for all sorts of understandable reasons. You might feel you’re tooyoung. You might assume everything automatically goes to your partner. Youmight not want to think about the worst happening. Or you might simply be busy,and it never feels like the right moment.

But “later” has ahabit of becoming “never”. And when someone dies without a valid will, it cancreate confusion, delays and avoidable stress for the people left behind — atthe exact moment they’re least able to deal with it.

Why a will matterseven when life feels straightforward

A will is yourchance to set out clearly what you want to happen to your money, property andpossessions when you die. It can also deal with practical issues that otherwisebecome complicated quickly.

Even if you haveonly one major asset (like a home) or a modest amount of savings, your will canstill be vital. It can:

l  confirm who should inheritand in what shares;

l  appoint executors — thepeople who will deal with your estate;

l  make specific gifts (forexample family jewellery, heirlooms or sentimental items);

l  include guardianshiparrangements for children under 18.

Without a will,the law decides who inherits under the rules of intestacy. Those rules don’treflect modern family life particularly well — and they don’t take personalrelationships, promises, or “what Mum would have wanted” into account.

Common myths thatlead people to delay

“I’mmarried, so everything goes to my spouse.”
Often, but not always — and not necessarily in the way people expect. It candepend on the size of the estate and whether there are children.

“We’re notmarried but we’ve been together for years.”
There is no automatic “common law marriage” right in England and Wales. Anunmarried partner may have no entitlement under intestacy rules, which can be anasty shock.

“My familywill sort it out.”
Even with the best intentions, families can disagree when there is no clearinstruction. A will reduces uncertainty and helps prevent misunderstandingsescalating.

“I don’thave much, so it doesn’t matter.”
Your “not much” might be a home, life insurance, savings, a car, or sentimentalitems. A will can make administration far easier.

What happens ifyou die without a will

Dying without avalid will can mean:

l  Delays while family members workout who can apply to deal with the estate;

l  More paperwork and often more complexityin administering the estate;

l  Outcomes you wouldn’t havechosen,particularly where there are blended families, unmarried partners, or estrangedrelatives;

l  Potential disputes, because there is nowritten statement of your wishes.

It can also addpressure on the person dealing with everything. Instead of following clearinstructions, they may have to navigate rules and processes while also copingwith grief.

The “right time”is usually earlier than you think

People often waitfor a milestone — buying a house, getting married, having children, starting abusiness. Those are all good reasons to make a will. But the truth is, the besttime is usually when life is fairly calm and you can think clearly.

A will is not a“one and done” document either. You can update it as life changes:relationships, children, property, finances, even your views on what you want.Many people treat it like a life admin tool: review every few years or after amajor event.

How making a willcan feel more manageable

If you’ve beenavoiding it because it feels daunting, it may help to break it down into simplesteps:

l  Think about who you wouldwant to benefit (and any specific gifts).

l  Consider who you trust toact as executor.

l  If you have children,consider guardianship.

l  Think about whether youwant your estate to be dealt with quickly, or with protections (for example foryounger beneficiaries).

A solicitor canthen help you translate those intentions into a properly drafted will that isclear, legally valid and less likely to be challenged.

Putting off a willis easy — and very common. But the cost of delay is often paid by the peopleyou care about most. A will provides clarity, reduces stress, and helps ensureyour wishes are followed.

If you’ve beentelling yourself you’ll do it “later”, it may be worth bringing it forward.It’s one of the few life admin jobs that genuinely gives peace of mind onceit’s done.

If you’d likefriendly, straightforward advice about making a will — whether it’s your firstone or you need to update an existing document — Edward Hands & LewisSolicitors can guide you through the process and help you put a clear plan inplace.

EdwardHands & Lewis Solicitors
Visit: www.ehlsolicitors.co.uk
Call: 0115 955 3444
Email: info@ehlsolicitors.co.uk

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The informationcontained in this article does not constitute financial advice orrecommendation and should not be considered as such. Edward Hands and LewisSolicitors does not offer financial advice and is not regulated by theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), the authors of this article are notfinancial advisors and are therefore not authorised to offer financial advice.

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