When you’re younger, thinking about writing your Will might feel like that’s something future you should worry about. However, writing a Will is one of the most important, beneficial and surprisingly cathartic things you can do.

A Will can remove any unnecessary stress for your loved ones and it’ll ensure that the right assets go to the right people in your life.

Many people think it’s common knowledge that you should make a Will once you reach a certain age. However, it isn’t just people in their 50s, 60s and beyond who should write a Will. From starting your first job to getting married, any chapter in your adult life is important enough for you to make a Will. Even if you believe your assets are modest, you’ll still want a say in where they go!

The National Will Register claims that only 44% of adults in the UK have a Will. A further 25% have a “life folder” of important documents to pass on to a trusted person.

Legally, you can write a Will on your 18th birthday. If you don’t make a Will it’s called “dying intestate.” This may create family disputes or legal fees that could have otherwise been avoided if you had a Will in place.

Life can be unpredictable at the best of times. There’s no time like the present to consider writing your Will.

Making a Will ensures that your assets, wishes, and loved ones are taken care of in the way you want.

Here are a few reasons why it’s always a good time to write your Will:

• Make sure loved ones and pets are looked after
• Control when and where your assets are distributed
• Aim to minimise the impact of disputes and legal complications
• Make decisions on organ donation
• Outline any donations/gifts to charity
• Funeral plans: Talk to your loved ones about your wishes and write them down in a separate document, which can be kept with your Will.

A Will gives you a lot of control over your assets including property, vehicles, antiques/heirlooms but as with most procedures there are some limitations.

Here are a few things that can’t be included in a Will and what you can do instead:

• Pension plans and life insurance policies: Change your beneficiary directly with your provider.
• Jointly owned property or assets (they will automatically go to the co-owner): Consider setting up your assets as ‘tenants in common’.

The process of writing a Will should be done by a professional so you can be assured it’s legally watertight.

Here are a few steps you can take to write your Will:

List your assets: Make an inventory of your property, personal possessions, savings and investments.

Decide on beneficiaries: Choose who will inherit from your estate.

Nominate guardians for your children: Write down who will take care of your children.

Choose your executors: Name the people who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes in your Will.

Talk to a solicitor: It’s highly recommended to consult a professional so you can make sure your Will is legally binding.

Sign and witness: Your Will must be signed in the presence of two witnesses who aren’t beneficiaries.

A Will is essentially your legal voice – it’s your say in your loved ones’ lives after you’ve gone. Talk to the team today to see how we can help: