Why should you have a will?

Did you know that around half of the UK’s population haven’t made a will? Many people don’t think it’s important, or that their estate will automatically be distributed to certain people in the event of their death.

However, this is not always the case. Here are seven reasons why you should make a will.

You can choose who your estate will be distributed to

If you don’t make a will, there’s no guarantee that your estate will be distributed to the people you choose.

This is especially prominent in the case of unmarried couples. If you’re only living with your partner, for example, they will not be guaranteed access to your estate after your death in the eyes of the law. This means that your legal next of kin, i.e. living relatives that you may not have spoken to in years, could get everything.

If you haven’t made a will and have no living relatives, there’s a chance your estate could be left to the government.

You can make specific bequests to people

If you make a will, you are able to leave specific items to individual people. For example, you would be able to leave your wedding ring to one of your children.

Without making a will, you have no guarantee that your items will end up in the right hands.

You can choose who executes your estate

It’s important that the person who executes your estate is someone your trust, and is preferably someone who is known by your family.

If you write a will, you will be able to choose your own executor, which will make your family feel more at ease while the process is being carried out.

You can nominate who looks after your children

This is one of the most important benefits of writing a will. If you have children under the age of 18, you will be able to nominate someone to become their legal guardian in the event of your death.

This is especially important if you do not have any contact with the child’s other parent, and would not under want them to obtain legal guardianship.

Children from previous marriages can get a share

If you have any children from previous marriages, and you have remarried, they may not get a share of your estate if you do not write a will.

Less chance of family disputes after your death

In the event of a death, there are often arguments and disputes between the family.

Emotions usually run high during this time, and having a will in place will help to decrease the chance of relationships being put under strain.

Here at Watsons, we’re experts in writing wills. Contact us for more information on how we can help you and your family should the worst happen.