Your will is something that should always
be talked about before you die, but this may not be the easiest conversation. In
this article, we explore six reasons why it’s important to discuss your will
with family.
The subject of your will rarely makes for
comfortable conversation, despite the fact that it is an incredibly important
topic.
Of course, you may have all your ducks
in a row in terms of having written your will and placing a copy with your probate
solicitors. That said, it’s also a really good idea
to share the contents of your will with your beneficiaries. This way, you can
explain your intentions, and make it known this is what you wish.
There are plenty of other reasons why this is
an important conversation to have. So, in this article, we’ll provide you with
six reasons to persuade you…
6 Reasons to Discuss Your Will with
Your Family
1. Confirming you are of sound mind
The first, and possibly most important, reason
for discussing your will with
your family is to let them know that you have in fact created a will
that informs your family of details of your last wishes.
This is important as, should you fall victim
to a degenerative disease such as dementia, there may come a time when you are
no longer able to make important decisions for yourself. The fact that a will is in place will provide
reassurance for your family that your wishes have been put in writing.
2.
Discussing Funeral Matters
If you’re healthy and happy, thinking about
your funeral may seem morbid or depressing, but
it’s also really important. By detailing what you want during your funeral in
your will, and discussing this with your family, you can help to remove the
uncertainty which often causes families a great deal of distress after the
death of a loved one.
Providing your funeral wishes in terms of the
type of service, music and readings can significantly help to take the stress
out of the process for your loved ones. It will also help your family with
closure knowing they’ve given a goodbye you deserved.
3. Ensuring there are no surprises
A very real reason for ‘having the talk’ is to
ensure that there are no nasty surprises on the reading of your will. It is, of
course, entirely up to you who you leave your assets to, but your family may
not always see it that way.
For example, if your sister is expecting to be
bequeathed your heirloom bracelet, it may cause shock and resentment if she
discovers that you’ve left it to a distant cousin on the reading of the will.
Having the conversation allows you to explain your reasons for making certain
bequests and to address any concerns or questions that your family may have
about your decisions.
4. Being sure your family know of your intentions
While your will is a legal document which
should always be honoured, discussing the contents with your family will
reinforce the fact that these are your wishes. This will help to eliminate any
doubt about your intentions once the time arrives.
5.
Confirming any last requests from
family
When putting your will together, you will no
doubt have tried to make sure that all of your loved ones have been remembered
and that your bequests are fair. However, you may not have factored in your
loved ones’ emotional attachment to particular items.
For example, a family member may have a
particular desire to have a certain scarf or piece of jewellery, as that item
reminds them of happy times that you have spent together. A family conversation
is a good time to allow them to mention anything that they would particularly
like, so this can be amended in your will if necessary.
6. Discussing what to do with inheritance
If you’re including large assets in your will,
such as a house or expensive car, it’s a good idea to let beneficiaries know
about this in advance. In many cases, a property will be passed to your
offspring. If you have more than one child, this can get a little complicated.
By having the conversation in advance, you
allow your children, or whomever, to discuss what will happen once they inherit
the property.
For example, it may be that one child still
lives with you at the property, so decisions about what will happen to their
living situation can be quite complex and can quickly turn ugly if left without
detailed discussions. Giving beneficiaries advance notice allows them to iron
out the details ahead of time so that they can avoid having to do so whilst
also dealing with their grief.
Discussing
Your Will Doesn’t Have to be Awkward…
You may find that your family members,
particularly your children, are understandably reluctant to discuss the
contents of your will. So, it’s best to approach the subject gently. Avoid
mentioning your death and, instead, focus on your legacy and what you want for
those who will remain.
Choose a time and a place where everybody
feels relaxed, and where you won’t be disturbed, to avoid the subject getting
off track. Explain to your family your reasons for wanting to discuss your will
and make it clear that you’re open to feedback. Do your best to answer any
questions about your bequests, while remaining firm if you don’t intend to
change your mind.
Finally, try to make sure that everybody gets
a chance to speak and, if necessary, appoint an independent party to act as
moderator should things become heated. Your will is
one of the most important documents you will ever create and is designed to
ensure that your wishes and your legacy remain in place long after you’ve
departed. Letting your family know where they stand can only help to smooth the
process at what will no doubt be an extremely difficult time.
Please be advised that this article is for
general informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for
advice from a trained legal professional. Be sure to consult a legal
professional if you’re seeking advice about writing a will. We are not liable
for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on
this site.
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