10 reasons why you should write a will

Protecting your wishes after death is a vital task for every adult. But our research shows more than half of UK adults are still yet to write a will.

“The idea of death, the fear of it, haunts the human animal like nothing else,” wrote Earnest Becker in his book, The Denial of Death.

The thought of death is strong enough to compel many to eating their five a day, or braving an early morning run in the rain. But strangely the fear of dying means many don’t confront its inevitability – and are therefore unprepared.

So, to help you understand why preparation is key to combating this Thanatophobia (the medical term for the fear of dying), we have put together 10 reasons on why to write a will.

1. Ensure your wishes are honoured

A professionally written is the best way to help ensure your wishes regarding your estate are passed on. If you do not write a will, the law decides how your estate is divided. This means your intended wishes may not be carried out. 

2. Protect your children

If you have children under the age of 18, you have a responsibility to assign guardians to them – using your will. If you fail to write a will, the court will decide who gets custody of your children.

3. Choose a trustworthy executor

Having a will prepared ensures that you can determine who looks after all your affairs when you have passed away. An executor has the biggest job and most responsibility so it’s important that you pick someone who is organised and 'trustworthy.

4. Consider a gift to charity in your will

Many choose to leave a gift to causes close to their hearts when writing their will. This means your legacy can live on in the great work your beloved charities do.

5. Clarify what you leave to your partner

If you are living with your partner but you are not married, you can specify in your will whether you would like for them to inherit some or all of your property. If this isn’t clarified, there is no guarantee that they will receive anything.

6. Save the risk of arguments

In the event that you pass away without a will, certain people have the right to apply to court if they believe that they are entitled to a share of your estate. Although a will can sometimes still be challenged on the basis it is believed to be unfair, the court is more hesitant to interfere in the circumstances that a clear will has been left.

7. Make specific wishes

A will allows you to leave very specific wishes. For example, if you have a piece of jewellery that you would like for someone to have, you can leave details of this in a letter of wishes which accompanies your will.

8. You can regularly update it

When you write a will, you can update it whenever necessary. For example, if you were to become a homeowner or have a child after writing your will, you can simply update the will in regards to your new life circumstances.

9. Specify when a beneficiary receives their inheritance

If you have children, they would receive their inheritance outright at the age of 18. However, should you wish for them to receive it when they are older, for example when they turn 21, you can specify this.

10. Make arrangements for tax planning 

The amount of Inheritance Tax you are charged is dependant on how big your estate is and who you leave it to. For example, if you plan on leaving your property to your children, this is likely to cause the inheritance bill to be less than if you were to leave it to a friend.

Write a will with Will Aid

If you're part of the more than 50% of UK adults who have put off writing your will, or someone who needs to update their existing will, there's still time. A will written with a participating Will Aid solicitor ensures your wishes are protected and supports charity.

Making a will with Will Aid is easy. Will Aid is a partnership between solicitors  and nine of the UK’s best-loved charities.

Every November, participating solicitors waive their fee for writing a basic will in return for a suggested voluntary donation. The suggested amounts are £120 for a single will and £200 for a pair of mirror wills.

To find a solicitor visit https://www.willaid.org.uk/will-makers/find-a-solicitor or call 0300 0309 558.