Have you written your Will?
By ukchriss
@ukchriss (2097)
February 2, 2007 11:24am CST
Recent surveys show that 25% of the UK population die without having a will.
If you don't have a will, the government will decide what to do. That means a stranger will decide who gets what and how much tax you are liable to pay. That means the social services will decide who looks after your children and who has parental rights over them. The social services can also take a large sum of money from your estate to pay for the care of your children.
Any person over the age of 18 can draft his own will without the aid of an attorney.
In the common law, a will or testament is a document by which a person regulates the rights of others over his or her property or family after death.
If so do you ever update it?
I wrote mine out about 7 years ago and now needs updating.
9 people like this
54 responses
@TAURUSGIRL (735)
•
2 Feb 07
no i havent but really need to we have care of our grandson and we should make our wishes known should anything unforseen happen to us they can fight over the rest of the estate lol
2 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
2 Feb 07
I admit that I haven't done it yet. I suppose that it's not much of an excuse that I really don't have any particular assets, since I still live at home and don't have much money of my own since I only work online for money. I am not sure how easy it is to get a will written up, but it's been hard for me to think about doing it because I don't know what would go in it. I just don't really have much to my name, but I still wouldn't want things to be confusing and difficult for my family if something did happen to me. Thanks for reminding me that I should be looking into these things!
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
2 Feb 07
We have one,but there hasn't been enough change to update it yet. Yes it is very important to have one and keep it up to date as changes occur in your life.
2 people like this
@Naomi17 (624)
•
2 Feb 07
havent needed to update mine as it is quite simple if i die everything goes to hubby and visa versa. If we both die the money is devided among my children.
I thought long and hard when it was written and put in someone who i knew would care for my children if they were still young enough to need it.
Also i'm donted my organs.
@Alexandria37 (5717)
• Ireland
4 Feb 07
My husband and myself just made our wills last year. However, just a few weeks back our solicitor called us to say that we had both signed the wrong wills, so we had to go back and sign the correct ones. We got quite a shock, as both wills varied slightly and it would have made a difference to my family, depending on which of us die first. That was a lesson to teach us to read everything thoroughly before signing anything.
1 person likes this
@ricky1209 (1675)
• India
3 Feb 07
nope not yet
i,m just 22
unmarried..
so no need of it yet
1 person likes this
@debzonline (50)
• India
3 Feb 07
i wrote my will and it says that after 2 months i am to get a brand new gibson guitar and my other guitars will be played by me and only me
@huggiebear22 (2007)
• Canada
5 Mar 07
I have one and update it every year. Here the goverment if there is no will or it is outdated they will take 50% of everything and if ther eis not enough cash in bank to cover things they bill ya or sell assets for you.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
26 Feb 07
I got my will made up years ago. It is important and helps to cut down waiting time if the unfortunate really happens. Many people I speak to can't be bothered about it - it's just something they prefer to put off indefinitely.
@Bunny2 (2102)
• Australia
3 Feb 07
My hubby and me wrote our wills when we bought our home some 24 years ago. It allowed for any children born of this marriage, etc. As it happens my eldest son is studying law and is in the process of updating our wills -which we've been saying we'd do for years.
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
3 Feb 07
I've semi written one. It's pretty short..since it's not like I have alot to say. If I die certain people have to be told. Whatever I have when I die -- what little bit that is, gets split between my three best friends. That's it lol. It doesn't need updating..and t won't be legal til a few years from now..THEN it'll probably need updating. So lets just hope I don't kick the bucket til then lol.
1 person likes this
@bananamanuk (835)
•
3 Feb 07
I've never written a will, although it is something that I sometimes think about but never get around to. I think you're right that it is very important if you want to decide who gets what rather than some stranger deciding on your behalf. I guess the thing is, people tend not to want to think about morbid things, a will kind of goes down that route, although I guess it shouldn't really since we're all going to die someday, just better to have something in place so we know our loved ones will be protected when we're gone.
1 person likes this
@SaShKai (25)
•
3 Feb 07
I am in the UK as well, and the other day my fiance said to me that we need to do a will for our sons sake. Well, I laughed at him...I know we need to but I think you just always put if off assuming that nothing will ever happen to you. It is a bad way to think, I know, but when you are young it seems you should still have plenty of time ahead of you...
Thanks for making me really think about it now...I definitely don't want the government to decide what happens to my kids and my money...
