5 Common Excuses Used to Avoid Arranging a Will – Devon Will Writer

There are many reasons how people and their estate planning problems can end up within anecdotes at social gatherings or in a local interest article in a newspaper. Here are 5 common excuses used to avoid arranging a will and which people then often use to justify inaction in relation to their Will.

I’ve already got a Will

This is akin to visiting a dentist only once in your lifetime, then wondering why all your teeth are falling out. Likewise, you should review your Will every few years to ensure that you are not inadvertently sitting upon a serious problem which has occurred since you originally arranged your Will.

I have nothing to leave

A Will not only avoids disputes regarding who inherits what from your estate, but it also ensures that your affairs can be dealt with by a person of your choice, rather than simply the most overbearing one.

Also, who will take care of your children and how will they be funded?

Who will take care of your pets and how will they be funded?

There are many unseen potential issues.

I’m expecting my situation to change, so I’ll wait until it has

This applies to everyone. Things may change for us all, but we don’t wait until our house is on fire before arranging insurance. Create a Will which applies to your current circumstances, and then amend it as and when necessary.

I’m going to do it soon

In our experience, people tend to fall into 2 main categories. Those who do something, and those who talk about doing something. In reality, people simply contact us to arrange their Will, whilst those who continually promise to arrange their Will soon rarely move on from that stage.

The man in the pub told me that my wife/children get it all anyway, so I don’t need a Will

Incorrect!

If there is no valid Will in existence, then under the law of Intestacy a spouse receives all personal belongings (including vehicles) PLUS the first £270,000 of estate value. Any estate value greater than that amount is split as 50% to a spouse and the other 50% equally between all surviving children.  This can often lead to catastrophic problems including but not limited to a spouse who is not the biological parent of children inheriting an entire estate, children becoming co-owners of a property and demanding their share during the lifetime of their surviving parent or estranged spouses and children inheriting from an estate automatically.

So you’ve read some excuses used to avoid arranging a Will but why leave such an important matter down to chance?

If you review your Will situation through TRF Wills, you can do so without fear of consultation fees or obligation. You literally have nothing to lose.

Please refer to our Wills page for further details.

Happy New Year!