It might sound a bit fatalistic but taking the time to organise a will when you’re young and healthy isn’t a bad idea at all. A forward-thinking and conscientious approach may ultimately help to avoid stress and heartache for your loved ones down the line.
Let’s take a look at some reasons why young people should make a will.
Why do young people need to make a will?
It’s understandable for young people to think that making a will is something reserved for older adults. Turning 18 in the UK allows you to legally enjoy a drink or get a tattoo. But many people overlook the fact that it’s also the age at which you can legally put together your own will.
Although writing a will is still not mainstream, it’s getting more popular among the young generations. In fact, The Year in Wills Report 2021 suggests that there was a 23% increase in the number of Gen Z customers writing wills in 2021.
By putting your wishes in place at a young age, you can enjoy peace of mind for years to come. Here are six more reasons why you are never too young to make a will.
Unmarried partners receive no automatic rights
Many young people live together with a partner without being married or in a civil partnership. While you might be sharing finances as a couple, there are no automatic rights in place for unmarried partners when their companion passes away. As such, making a will is the only way to ensure that your assets are left to the people you care about most, including your partner. It can help you tie up loose ends and provide security for your partner if the worst should happen.
Protect what matters most
Younger generations tend to have less property equity or no property at all. However, they own more material possessions than ever before, from electronic devices to game consoles to luxury items. All of these items can add up, so it’s worth ensuring that your belongings are protected and given to the people or charities you care about most in the event of your passing.
And even more importantly, if you have children or pets, it’s important to include instructions for who you would want to take care of them.
Secure your digital possessions
It’s not just physical possessions you need to think about. In the age of online media, many young people have belongings that are stored digitally. These can include things such as photographs, music collections, stocks and shares or even cryptocurrency or NFTs. In your will, it’s good to include what you want to happen to these. This also includes specifying what happens to your social media accounts.
Avoid disputes after your death
The loss of a loved one can cause disputes among even the closest of family members and friends, especially if there is no will in place. For example, if a young person dies and everything goes to their parents, their partner may feel overlooked. By putting together a will, you can make your wishes crystal clear so that no one has any reason to fall out.
Specify out-of-the-box requests
It’s not unusual to make requests in your will that are a little left of centre, such as leaving money to your family with clear instructions as to how it should be used. Do you want your wealth to be spent on your dog, or used to fund a big family holiday? These are the kinds of notes you can add to your will.
Leave behind a legacy
Writing a will doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. You can inject your will with your good nature, generosity and sense of humour, giving your loved ones a lasting smile, and cement your legacy.
For peace of mind, seek out will writing support
No matter what age you are, organising your will can feel like a mammoth task. Thankfully, there is support available to ensure that your agreement is clear, well-articulated and fair.
Head of Wills, Probate and Trusts at Winn Solicitors, Rebecca Harbron Gray, explains the importance of effective will writing:
“Many people avoid writing a will and making plans for death for many years because they think it is a morbid or depressing process. But the truth is often that, once complete, people get a sense of comfort and relief from knowing that they have done all they can to protect and care for their nearest and dearest. At Winn Solicitors, our team has decades of experience in this specialist field of law. We know how to make it simple and stress-free – no matter how complex your estate or family situation is.”
With a dedicated team of legal specialists in settling affairs, Winn Solicitors can help you create a will that offers complete peace of mind and security for your family, no matter what the future holds.
This guest post was provided by Winn Solicitors. If you’re looking for an expert will writing service, get in touch with Winn Solicitors today.
It is a fascinating article! I never thought about securing pictures and videos. Thank you for valuable tips.
In some part of the world, “a will” is synonymous to “death”. I wish more articles like this could be written.
Appreciate the the information!
A much needed reminder about the value of a will. Kudos to the writer!
Great advice! Thanks for sharing!
Wills are important at any age! This was a great read. Thanks so much for sharing!
Great tips! Most young people don’t enjoy thinking about writing a will but it’s definitely a good thing to have.
This is a really enlightening article. I am guilty of overlooking many of the things mentioned here. A real eyeopener for me.
This is good food for thought.