Writing a Will – is it about life, or death?

As a general rule, nobody wants to think about dying but, at Honey, we believe that making a Will is just as much about living.  Your Will shows what is most important to you in your life, who you care most about and which good causes are closest to your heart. We all know that a Will is a document that takes effect after we have died but, when we choose to create it, the emphasis needs to be on the fact that it is put in place to reflect how we are living and that it is a positive way of protecting everything we work hard for.  Every Will tells a story of life, we are all different, therefore every Will is different.  Wills can tell stories of complicated estates, divorce, family feuds, and the general trials and tribulations of life as well as telling stories of love and care and compassion.  And having a Will ensures that your story is told by you!

What if I don’t have a Will?

If you die without a legally binding Will, the law will decide who inherits your estate. Not you or your next of kin. There is every possibility that this will not be a reflection of how you live and what you care about.

What is usually in a Will?

Executors and trustees – who is right for the family dynamics and is confident and competent enough to carry out this role?  Who do you know that would carry out your wishes with integrity?

Guardians of children – who are your most trusted friends and family members that care about you and yours almost as much as you do?

Gifts – many people choose to write specific gifts into a Will, either of money or treasured possessions. These can be gifts to people or a gift to a charity that you always like to support.  For some of us, no specific gifts are needed, just an estate that is simply to pass in shares to our nearest and dearest, to make sure that everything we continually work so hard for is protected for those that are always there for us.

Your wishes – there are many wishes that you may want to have carried out by your executors, and most will be straightforward.  However, some Wills have to be more complicated because, at times, life is complicated! You may have a family member that you worry has married the wrong person or a child that is keeping the wrong company. Whatever your circumstances, writing a Will is the only way to make sure that your loved ones will continue to be taken care of in the best way possible.

What if I write a Will but my life changes?

We never know what life is going to throw at us and quite often, it may throw us a curve ball.  That person who has always been part of our life can suddenly turn out to not be the person we once thought they were.  For this reason, Wills can be changed.  Your most recent signed Will is always the one that takes precedent so make sure you keep it up to date to match your journey through life.  Codicils or Letters of Wishes can be added to existing Wills if you wish to make changes or your Will can be totally rewritten if needs be.

Did you know…?

When you marry, any existing Will is automatically cancelled and is no longer valid. If you do not make a new one, then when you die the law of intestacy decides how your assets are divided. So as you start new chapters in your life, creating a new Will may also be a good idea.

Whatever stage of life you are at – don’t delay writing your Will.  Call Honey today so that we can arrange for one of our experienced advisors to listen to your story and make sure that your Will suits your needs and circumstances.  And remember, it’s not all about death, it’s more about showing how we are choosing to live…