Published on: 30th October 2023

Why creating a Will is not just for later in life

If a person dies without a Will, it results in them dying intestate. This means that they have no say in who will receive their assets, as their estate is divided in accordance with the rules of intestacy. Their estate will consequently be divided according to set rules, rather than their intentions. The rule limits who can inherit the estate, usually being married or civil partners, and some other close relatives. Most people have specific wishes and intentions of where they would like their assets to go so therefore, by creating a Will, their wishes can be met.

Creating a Will should not be delayed until you “reach a certain age”. The Will will specify who should look after your affairs, be a guardian to any children under 18 and where any specific gifts are to be distributed. That is why it is critical to consider getting a Will made, as long as you are above 18.

Amy Winehouse is an example of dying intestate at a young age. In 2011, Amy Winehouse sadly passed away at aged only 27. She had not written a Will and therefore her estate was divided according to the rules of intestacy. As she was not married and did not have any children, all of her assets went to her parents. This caused controversy, since her family were due to inherit all of her assets and it was known at the time, through the media, that Amy’s relationship to her parents was less than perfect. This may not have been what she had wished to happen to her assets but unfortunately, because she did not have a Will, this was the inevitable outcome. Having a Will is also important as it reduces stress for your family by avoiding the inevitable “who gets what” arguments. If Amy Winehouse had created a Will she would have been able to dictate who would receive her assets.

Therefore, as long as you’re 18 years old or above, you should consider getting a Will created, as this would prevent your assets including your money, possessions and valuables going to someone you may not wish them to go to.

If you would like to speak with one of our Consultants to discuss any of the issues raised in this article or any other Estate Planning topic please telephone 01732 868190 or click here.

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If you wish to give instructions or require general information about our Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, or Trusts then we will carry out a telephone or Zoom appointment.

However, if you wish to give instructions to one of our Consultants and you feel that you can only do this at a Face to Face meeting then we are offering, at our Consultant’s discretion, a limited number of Face to Face appointments in most of the areas we normally cover. To see the areas we normally cover please click here.

To arrange an appointment please telephone 01732 868190 or click here.

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