May 2023
Here at Down’s we’re strong advocates for will writing - it’s probably one of the most important documents you’ll ever need, yet less than half of all UK adults actually have one. But why? Yes, none of us actually like to talk about death, but if you don’t have a will, you’re just creating unwarranted issues for your friends and family - and here’s just a few reasons why.
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You have more wealth than you think you do
Most of us probably assume, wrongly, that we don’t have enough in the bank to worry about who gets it, but when you die, “wealth” is so much more than a bank balance. If you own a house or a car, these will have a cash value - and they are things that you own that will need to be sold or passed down.
You can also include businesses in the mix - even if it’s not your full time job. In fact, 1 in 5 adults in the UK have started a side hustle since March 2020, with 15% saying they earn more than £1,000 per month using this second income stream. Have you thought about who will take that over if you were to die?
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You have more assets than you think you do
Now the first point has got you thinking about “wealth”. It might also make you realise how many assets you own as well. It’s not just property, cars and businesses, it’s bank accounts, social media profiles, National Lottery accounts, Air Miles - how many of these things do you have?
You can read more from our blog about digital assets here which might help you think things through. We also wrote about some of the weirdest things left in a will which might also make you think!
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It will save financial hardship
If you die without a will, this is called dying intestate. This basically means it will be the law that decides how your assets are split, as opposed to a loved one or family member. It could mean the process becomes much longer and costlier - as the law can be more black and white and family members may want to dispute any decisions made.
Court costs and solicitors fees can add up, so getting your affairs in order could save your family from paying out several expensive fees to claim what is rightfully theirs.
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It saves arguments and heartache
In our experience, even the most straightforward of families have skeletons - and grief brings out interesting sides to people. This can be even more so for blended families, especially if a couple is killed at the same time - like in a car accident - where it cannot be determined who died first. In those cases, it is assumed the older person died first, which would mean all assets would pass to the other person before it is distributed. If you have a will, you can express wishes that could prevent that circumstance - for example, that your biological children benefit before your spouse or step children. It can save a lot of heartache and arguments in the long run.
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This can all be solved easily - in a few minutes
There’s no escaping it! Writing a will takes less time than you think it does and thanks to modern technology, you can arrange a virtual appointment with a solicitor - like us - explain your wishes, appoint executors and so basic ID checks. We can then exchange draft wills and contracts over email - and that is essentially it. Done!
If we can help you draft your will, contact the Private Client team at Downs Solicitors to see how we can help.
