What Makes People Write A Will

People don’t always put writing a will at the top of their to-do lists, even though it’s one of the most important things they can do. No one wants to think about their own death or what will happen to their things after they die. If you don’t make a will, you don’t have to think about these things, right? But some things happen that remind people that writing a will is a good idea. In this blog, we look at some of those things.

You Don’t Want The Government To Take Your Estate

When you think about what will happen to your assets after you die, you may imagine a person receiving them or perhaps a charity making use of them. This won’t happen, however, unless you write a will. If you have no will and no living family members to receive your estate, then the government will take it all, no matter what. Writing a will prevents this from happening – you can leave your estate to anyone, so even if you have no family, good friends can benefit.

You’re Separated

It’s possible to be separated from your spouse without divorcing them – that can come later, but in the meantime, you will no longer live together and may not be required to pay bills and so on. This is a good time to write a will. If you were to die while separated, your ex-partner could receive everything in your estate if you have no will, even if it has been years since you were together. If you have a new partner, they will receive nothing if you are not married unless you write it in a will.

You’ve Remarried

Equally, if you have remarried, your new spouse will automatically become the recipient of your estate after you die if you have no will. This might be exactly what you want, and you may require only very simple estate planning. However, if you do want your ex-wife or husband to receive some share of your estate (perhaps you owe them money or you are still on good terms with them), then it needs to be written in a will for it to happen.

There Will Be Arguments

You know your family. You know what assets you have. If you have an idea that you want to give specific items to specific people, you have to write it in a will. If you don’t and you have simply mentioned to them that you think one person should receive this framed picture and another should have that antique vase, there could be big arguments once you have passed away. Simply telling someone that they can inherit something has no legal bearing, and if another family member tells the court that you said the same thing to them, a long battle could commence.

Write it all down, and there can be no arguments. Everyone will receive just what you wanted them to have. If there are still issues, an estate planning attorney can help.

Your Children

Having children is often a time when people choose to write their wills – they want to be able to provide for their little ones when they have gone. It’s important for other reasons too, of course. If you and their other parent aren’t married, your children may not automatically inherit from your estate, even if that’s what you assume will happen. Creating a valid will solves this problem and ensures that they will receive their inheritance.