Making a will is arguably one of the most important things that you can do for not only yourself, but your family also. We spend our lives working to provide for not only ourselves, but for our loved ones too. You may have a house/flat, share, investments as well as personal possessions. Assets are what is known as your estate.
It is important for everyone to make a will, but even more so if you have children. It’s nice to know before that you pass on that you have made it a legal binding of who will be responsible for your children and how you would like your assets handled, for example- Who the house you will go too? Which member of the family would you like to have your jewellery.
There are numerous reasons as to why creating a will is so important, here are some below:
- You can decide who will be responsible for your children- Writing a will allows you to make decisions about who you would like to take care of your minor children. Without a will, the courts will be the ones to decide, who they feel will be the best role models for them. They may choose a close family member or in some cases they may be adopted. By writing a will you can rest assured that you have chosen the person/people who you would like to raise your children, or on the other hand, ensure that it isn’t someone who you don’t want to raise them.
- To avoid a long probate process- Regardless of whether you do or don’t have a will, when you pass away there is always a probate process. Although, having a will speeds the process up and the courts will be advised of how you’d like your estates divided. However, if you don’t have a will, it is left in the hands of the court to make the decision to divide your estates, without your input, this can cause unnecessary delays.
- You have the choice of disinheriting someone who may otherwise be applicable to inherit- Most people don’t realise that they are able to disinherit someone from their will. By writing a will, you can specifically state who you would like to inherit what, if you die. Without a will, your estate may end up in the hands of someone who you didn’t intend it to, such as an ex-husband.
- You never know what is around the corner- Many people are unwilling to accept conversations regarding death, so will delay writing a will. To avoid any stresses for your family, it is a wise idea to meet with a solicitor to draw up a will, before it is too late.
- If your circumstances change, you can change your mind- You are willing to make changes to your will, for as long as you’re alive. There are many circumstances in life that may make it necessary for you to change your will, such as; births, deaths and divorce.
kyle Smith