You probably
realise how important it is to have an official will written up before you pass
away. However, many of us struggle to find the time to do so. Writing your will
can seem a little bit daunting for most of us; the idea of making plans for
after your passing is a scary one. However, it is essential in ensuring your
last wishes are met.
With this in mind, we at Harley and Rogers have put together a handy list
explaining the main benefits of a will and why you should get yours written up
as soon as possible.
Stay in control of your estate
One of the
main advantages of writing up a will is that it keeps you in control of your
assets. If you were to pass away intestate without making a will) your estate
will be distributed according to the law. This will mean that if you had any
specific plans or wishes after you pass away, they will not be taken into
account.
There are
many examples where this could be extremely detrimental to those you leave
behind. Significant others, with whom you have no legal partnership with, are
not legally entitled to anything. Also, if you pass away with no close living
relatives, your entire estate will be transferred to the Crown or Government in
a process known as bona vacantia. Wills completely counteract these issues, allowing
you to choose how your assets are shared.
Protect those who need you
Dying
without a will can leave the people who relied on you before you passed away in
a tricky situation. If you don’t create a document stipulating who will act as
the legal guardian to your children, the government has the right to choose
someone they deem acceptable, which could be a family member or a
state-sanctioned guardian.
Stipulating
this in a will means that your wishes will be met when it comes to the future
of your children, sparing them from an extremely distressing process.
Preparing for whatever life may hold
All in all,
sometimes it can just help to put your mind at ease if the worst was to happen.
Sadly, no one knows what the future holds for us and accidents can and do
occur. With this in mind, creating a will means that your family and assets are
covered under a protected document, ensuring that if anything terrible and
unforeseen was to happen, your wishes will be respected.
Ensure your will is valid
As you can
see, a will really does tie up any loose ends in the eventuality of your death.
However, it is essential that your will is planned and written properly. Here
at Hawley and Rodgers, our specialist team of solicitors are on hand to advise
and aid in all aspects of the wills and probate process.
Whether
you’re looking for help in the creation of your will or simply seeking advice
on the process, you can rest assured that your final wishes will be respected.
If you would like to learn more about our wills and probate assistance or the
range of other legal services we have on offer,
visit our
website.
