It never ceases to amaze me how many people jog along through life without ever thinking about important things like making a will…

I know it can seem depressing or morbid but setting out what you want to happen with your affairs when you are gone can save an awful lot of anguish and heartache later.

The best way to look at it is ‘the avoidance of doubt’ and ensuring that what happens to any property or investments that you have go where you want them to go after your death. A will is also really important if you have children and you want to ensure they are looked after if you die.

If you don’t make a will then everything you own will be shared out in a way defined by the law – which might not be what you want.

This is particularly important for couples who are unmarried or in circumstances where you or your partner have children from previous relationships.

For example, imagine you have children from an earlier marriage that has now ended. You begin a new relationship and subsequently die. Without a will, your estate may well go to your new partner, even if you had wanted to leave something for your other children.

If you aren’t married, it’s also important to protect your property and ensure that if you die your half of the home is left to your partner, rather than other members of your family, if that is what you want to happen.

It’s also important to look at putting some insurance policies ‘in trust’, again to ensure the proceeds go to the right person at the time that the policy is cashed in.

There are also sound financial reasons for making a will as they can help reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax that is payable on any property or money you leave.

Aside from protecting your estate, a will also sets out who will be your executor, to sort out your affairs, and also who would look after any children you might have.

All of these things might seem complicated, time-consuming or unnecessary in an “it’ll never happen to me” sort of way. But far too often I hear heart-breaking stories of people dying without a will and the very difficult situations that can ensue.

Making a will is pretty straightforward, inexpensive and quick and for the sake of the peace of mind it affords, well worth the effort.

Give me a call and I can help you to sort out your will straight away – than that’s another thing you won’t have to worry about any more…