Where there's a will..
By Tony Watts - Editor - 29/05/2007
A frightening proportion of people have not made a will. Why not? Ask the average person and they often come back with: “It’s a morbid thing to do” or “It’s tempting fate” or “I just haven’t got round to it”.
Rubbish. Anyone can find an hour or two to make out their will, it costs just a few pounds and you’re no more likely to die the day afterwards than if you had put it off.
But the alternative – not making a will – can make a huge impact upon people’s lives… people you care about. Perhaps the saddest part is that the valued possessions of a person who dies “intestate” (without making a will), may not be distributed as their owner would have wished.
Special objects (they don’t have to be valuable, just of sentimental value) can cause huge family divisions after a person has gone. Believe me, I know. And when money does get involved, it’s scary sometimes how bitter wrangles can develop.
But, again speaking from experience, it’s small things that can really matter. Like how you wish your funeral to be arranged. Again, issues such as whether a person should be cremated or buried, or where the ashes should go, even which hymns should be sung, should be your decision, not the subject of divisive debate.
A properly made will gives you absolute peace of mind: you can make provision for your partner and family and be quite sure your wishes are carried out. It is sensible to consult a solicitor, for whom making a will is a simple process. In most cases it takes only about an hour. If you have a dependent relative, friend or pets for whom you want to make provision, making your wishes known in a will is essential.
Each year, many thousands of people leave behind a loved pet. If you don’t know of someone who can give that animal a caring home, you might well want to contact an organization like The Dogs Trust to make sure they’ll be well looked after.
And don’t forget, this is an opportunity too to make provision for causes that are dear to your heart and, as the article on the opposite page makes clear, if you are leaving an estate valued at more than £300,000, it will reduce your inheritance tax liability.
And even if you do have a will, make sure that it is refreshed from time to time to take account of changing circumstances – such as divorces, deaths or changes in your estate.
Many charities offer Will guides, such as the free, comprehensive Will Information Pack from Help the Aged. If you’d like confidential, impartial guidance on planning your Will, Help the Aged also offers a free one-to-one Will Advice Service to anyone of retirement age in England, Scotland or Wales.
Their locally-based Wills and Legacies Advisers can answer queries by phone or, if appropriate, can visit you at home to discuss everything in detail. They provide jargon-free guidance on everything you need to consider, such as estimating the value of your estate, treatment of any jointly owned property, practical ways of dealing with personal belongings, Inheritance Tax and selecting Executors.
Some people who use this service choose to include a legacy in their Wills to support the future work of Help the Aged, such as lobbying for fairer pensions, campaigning to prevent neglect or abuse of vulnerable older people, and providing practical advice and support services in the community.
Help the Aged is the only UK charity funding medical research into the full range of conditions that impair quality of later life such as dementia, stroke, incontinence, bone and joint complaints, sensory loss, slow wound healing, muscle wasting and chronic sleep problems.
To order a free Will Information Pack or to request a free consultation with a Wills & Legacies Adviser from Help the Aged, telephone 020 7239 1965 or email wills@helptheaged.org.uk