Writing your Will: The best resolution you’ll make for your loved ones in 2024

Why do I need a Will?

It is at this time of year that we begin to reflect on the past twelve months. We understand the importance of family and spend the festive period with those who mean the most to us. Whilst you may not have yet considered writing a Will, at Osborne Morris & Morgan we encourage you to read about the benefits it provides not only for your loved ones, but also for yourself.

Simply put, your Will is a legal document with clearly written instructions on what will happen to your assets and any responsibilities after you die.

If you die without a Will in place, it will mean that your children, property and finances are not looked after according to your wishes. This can cause lots of upset for family and loved ones at an already devastating time.

It may also mean that your partner doesn’t receive the things you have discussed and that your pets are placed in temporary care or foster homes until someone can take care of them.

When should I write my Will?

Sadly, there is a misconception that Wills can be ignored until later in life and so many people delay writing a Will until they are older. It is these thoughts that result in families not receiving the assets they were promised. If you delay arranging our Will, there is the risk that if you were to pass away suddenly, your loved ones may be left without the things you wanted them to have.

Who can write a Will? Well, anyone over the age of 18 and who is deemed mentally capable can write a Will. More than half of people over the age of 18 in the UK do not have a Will. This is a huge worry and without this document in place, your assets may not be given to your loved ones or even charity, despite your wishes.

Now that we are in the new year, why not take this time to make a resolution that will benefit everyone close to you? There is no better time to write a Will than now.

Why can’t my loved ones arrange my affairs?

Although you may have excellent relations with your family and friends at this current moment, after your death, their relationships with each other may become strained. Especially, if disagreements arise about who receives certain possessions.

A Will helps to avoid these situations by detailing exactly what happens with your assets. If you do not have a Will in place, your estate will be divided according to intestacy rules rather than family wishes.

If you have a partner and children but are not married, the law may look to appoint guardians for your children that would be against your wishes. Also, if you are not married to your partner, they may lose the home you both lived in.

Even if you believe that your affairs are in order, writing a Will can help to solidify your plans and wishes for the lives of those around you once you have passed.

Why should Osborne Morris & Morgan write my Will?

An expert Wills solicitor can provide many great benefits to writing a Will and help you to avoid the pitfalls associated with a ‘DIY’ attempt.

Our Wills Team are experts in this field and know exactly how to word legal documents with no room for confusion or misunderstanding. We see all too often the problems that can arise with incorrectly worded Wills. These can cause enormous distress for those around you as well as huge financial costs.

When you choose to write your Will with us and opt for our storage solution, you can also be rest assured that your document will be safe and easily locatable for any future revisions.

Make a New Year’s Resolution you can stick to

At Osborne Morris & Morgan, we have experience in helping a wide range of individuals arrange their affairs and protect their loved ones.

If you do not currently have a Will or would like to update your existing Will (which you should do every five years or so), make this your top resolution for the New Year.

Our expert Wills Team are here to help you tick this off your to-do list and offer expert advice and support.

You can get in touch or arrange a meeting with us today by calling 01525 378177. You can currently visit our Leighton Buzzard office, set up an appointment via Skype or Zoom at a time that best suits you, or reach out to an adviser via the Live Chat function located across our website.