5 reasons people put off writing a Will and why you shouldn't

Collaborative Post | A huge number of people in the UK don’t have a proper will in place. This article will look at five reasons people put off writing a will - and why it’s a bad idea.

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​Will and probate solicitors can attest that around 31 million adults in the UK don’t currently have a will. Those who have not written one yet may have their reasons as to why or have not thought about it.  
 
Not leaving a Will is something which can cause a huge number of problems and even cause family rifts after your days. So, what are the reasons for why people don’t write one?

What is a Will?

​A last Will and testament is a legal document which is drawn up in order for an individual to state what they wish to happen to their assets and belongings in the event of their death.
 
Writing a Will allows a person to make sure that their property is distributed in accordance with their wishes and is designed to make their intentions clear. While you can draw up your own Will, you should ask a solicitor to notify this and to keep hold of a copy for you.

What are the reasons people put off writing a Will?

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1.   Too morbid to think about

​None of us enjoy thinking about our own death but, the fact is that this is something which happens to us all. This is one of the most common reasons for people putting off writing a will.
 
This can also be a reason for not encouraging loved ones to do the same, simply because they don’t want to think about losing that person.

2.   Too young to write a Will

​A huge number of people in their twenties, thirties and forties work on the principle that they are too young to have to think about writing a Will and that they’ll do so when they are older.
 
In an ideal world, we’d all live to a ripe old age, however, sadly, this is not the case for a great many people. In the UK, 1,769 people aged 35 to 44 die of diseases such as cancer every year. So, being prepared is never a bad thing.

3.   Not owning assets to distribute

Another common reason people state for not writing a Will is that they don’t own a property such as a house or a flat and therefore don’t see any point.
 
This is flawed thinking in a number of ways, including the fact that the person may own a property later on. Not to mention other assets or items to arrange what to do with, including possibly cash or a pension plan which should be distributed following their death.

4.   Everything will go to the spouse anyway

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​Lots of married people assume that, when they die, everything will go to their wife or husband whether they have a Will or not. While your spouse will inherit in the event of your death, they may not be awarded everything.
 
For example, if you have a child and, even if you are estranged from that child, a court may award a percentage of your assets to your offspring.

5.   Unsure how to divide assets

​A significant number of people in the UK don’t have children, family or a significant other and so put off writing a Will simply because they don’t know who to leave their property and assets to.
 
While this can be tricky, it’s a good idea to have a long hard think about this as, without a Will in place, a court may track down a next of kin, which may well be a distant family member that you have never even met.

Why you shouldn’t put off writing a Will

​We’ve mentioned a few reasons that people give for putting off a Will and, while these reasons may seem valid, that doesn’t make them right. Dying without a Will can cause a number of problems, including:
 

• Spouse hardship - If you don’t specify that you wish your estate to be awarded to your spouse, it may be divided, for example, to an estranged child. This may mean that your spouse no longer owns all of the property that he or she has been living in and has been making mortgage payments on.

 

• Family feuds - When you don’t specify who gets what by way of a Will, this will often result in family and friends falling out. It’s incredibly easy for things to turn ugly when money and property is at stake and this can cause irreparable family feuds.

 

• Bona Vacantia - If you don’t leave a Will, and you don’t have a spouse, family or close friends, your property and assets will pass back to the Crown, i.e. the state, meaning that none of your loved ones will benefit.

Where there’s a Will…

​As we’ve explained, dying intestate, or without a Will, can be absolutely disastrous for your loved ones and can even leave your partner or spouse without a home - all of which can be avoided.
 
Making a will is quick, easy and affordable and is a really simple way of making sure that your loved ones are taken care of in the event of your death, as well as ensuring that your wishes are carried out.
 
While it’s best to ask a solicitor to help you to put together your Will, it is possible to do this yourself, although, if you choose this option, you need to make sure that you make your wishes crystal clear in order to avoid confusion and problems once you’re gone.


​Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post