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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think making a Will is pointless if yoyu have no assets?

206 replies

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 16:27

Just that really. My husband and I have literally nothing so nothing to give away!!

OP posts:
NoNotDolly · 28/08/2026 08:13

CheeseAndSaladCreamSandwich · 28/08/2026 07:28

At the moment, your adult children are financially secure, happily married, sensible, sane people.

It doesnt sound as though youre dying tomorrow.

Anything could happen between now and when your time does come. Your childrens situations could change significantly. As could your own.

And deaths can bring out the absolute worst in people, especially over money, even if not much.

When ive had relatives die, its not been the high value possessions that have mattered. But the executors knowing I can go in and take what I want from their property meant a lot. In my case - it was a saucepan from my nan (a wedding present given to them in the 1930s and the one we used weekly for about 30 years of cooking together). For another relative, it was their favourite mug, I now drink my coffee out of it every morning.

She has a small daughter too that she is purposely ignoring. I’m not sure why.

Wordsmithery · 28/08/2026 08:12

Better to make things simple for those you leave behind. Everyone should have a will, imo.

User2856420 · 28/08/2026 08:07

OP you sound angry and rather unpleasant and almost as if you are just out to annoy the people on here trying to help you.
Why not spend some time talking to the people important to you in real life instead of strangers on the internet.

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 28/08/2026 07:43

Softcell1966 · 28/08/2026 07:39

My DP has one adult child. When we met he had no will. Now he has one on a plain piece of paper. " I, mr softcell of 20 the street, small town, leave all of my estate to junior soft cell of the same address" signed by partner and 2 witnesses with their name and address (just the next friends that came round after it was written) I have a copy and so does his sister and the original is in his top drawer. Sorted and legally binding and simpler for his child than dying intestate.

Better to have the simplest version than nothing

unless junior pre-deceases dad... Plus there's no executor named....

Have something like
I, Mr Softcell, of 20 The Street, Small Town, declare this to be my last Will and revoke any earlier wills.

  1. Executor
I appoint [FULL NAME OF EXECUTOR] of [ADDRESS] to be the Executor of my Will.
  1. Gift of my estate
I give all of my estate, of whatever kind and wherever situated, to my child, Junior Soft Cell, of 20 The Street, Small Town, absolutely.
  1. If Junior dies before me
If Junior Soft Cell dies before me, I give my estate to [NAME OF ALTERNATIVE BENEFICIARY] absolutely.
  1. Declaration
I declare that I am making this Will freely and voluntarily and that I understand its contents. Signed by me, Mr Softcell, as my last Will and Testament:
Softcell1966 · 28/08/2026 07:39

My DP has one adult child. When we met he had no will. Now he has one on a plain piece of paper. " I, mr softcell of 20 the street, small town, leave all of my estate to junior soft cell of the same address" signed by partner and 2 witnesses with their name and address (just the next friends that came round after it was written) I have a copy and so does his sister and the original is in his top drawer. Sorted and legally binding and simpler for his child than dying intestate.

Better to have the simplest version than nothing

CheeseAndSaladCreamSandwich · 28/08/2026 07:28

At the moment, your adult children are financially secure, happily married, sensible, sane people.

It doesnt sound as though youre dying tomorrow.

Anything could happen between now and when your time does come. Your childrens situations could change significantly. As could your own.

And deaths can bring out the absolute worst in people, especially over money, even if not much.

When ive had relatives die, its not been the high value possessions that have mattered. But the executors knowing I can go in and take what I want from their property meant a lot. In my case - it was a saucepan from my nan (a wedding present given to them in the 1930s and the one we used weekly for about 30 years of cooking together). For another relative, it was their favourite mug, I now drink my coffee out of it every morning.

concertinacornflake · 28/08/2026 07:18

FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 00:23

@concertinacornflake I will look into how much a cheap one costs to draw up and see if I can afford. But would I have to pay again if things change?

Read up on the MoneySavingExpert website about cheap will schemes. November is one month where solicitors offer free services in return for charitable donations.

Any will is better than none so don't worry about future changes right now - the solicitor will advise you how to make it long lasting.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 28/08/2026 07:13

It's not just about 'what you leave' - this is what people are saying. A will is to help make the admin easier when the time comes, not just to portion up your apparently non-existent estate but in stopping bills coming out of your account, sorting out any remaining paperwork that follows your deaths (there could be a tragic accident/housefire etc with associated court cases). You seem to think your children will happily suck all this up but what if they've recently been ill or their spouse has or one of their children? If their lives have become really stressful and they just don't have the extra bandwidth and time to deal with what might me a traumatic additional burden?

Don't you owe it to your kids to make their lives as easy as possible in the future?

FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 00:23

@concertinacornflake I will look into how much a cheap one costs to draw up and see if I can afford. But would I have to pay again if things change?

OP posts:
concertinacornflake · 28/08/2026 00:19

FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 00:13

@concertinacornflake I assumed they could close bank accounts and inform landlady etc with a death certificate. Is this not the case?

Not automatically.

If you die intestate they'll have to do more paperwork to prove they have the right to close accounts etc.

You need to read up on why a will helps the people left behind.

Do you want to make it easy or difficult for them? If you want to make it difficult, don't make a will.

FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 00:13

@concertinacornflake I assumed they could close bank accounts and inform landlady etc with a death certificate. Is this not the case?

OP posts:
concertinacornflake · 28/08/2026 00:12

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 23:50

@concertinacornflake My sons would not want my wedding ring so it's easy - my daughter would have it. There would be no issue at all.

But you are creating a huge headache for them, because they can't just get on with things.

I don't understand why you wouldn't just make things simple for your children.

Is it because you fear death?
Or don't want to spend the money?

It makes no sense.

NoNotDolly · 27/08/2026 23:51

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 23:47

@NoNotDolly Adults don't need me looking after them. Had I died when they were children, ex-husband. Simple solution.

Edited

Other posts suggest your daughter is young. What are you doing to secure her in some way if you both die unexpectedly. Who will have her? That’s why you need a will.

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 23:50

@concertinacornflake My sons would not want my wedding ring so it's easy - my daughter would have it. There would be no issue at all.

OP posts:
concertinacornflake · 27/08/2026 23:48

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 16:55

@Any1ForTennis My daughter would have our wedding rings and my sons are more than happy with that (my husband is their stepdad). They are worth nothing money-wise.
I am sure my eldest would be happy to sort the practicalities as he has that sort of calm and level head.

This is precisely what should be in your will.

MoneySavingExpert has advice on free or low cost will options.

Make things easy for your kids.

JustAQuestion12 · 27/08/2026 23:48

Items mean more to people than you obviously assume they do.

I won't be showing you the court documents so believe what you want.

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 23:47

@NoNotDolly Adults don't need me looking after them. Had I died when they were children, ex-husband. Simple solution.

OP posts:
FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 23:46

@JustAQuestion12 I'm not saying you're making it up, but struggling to believe anyone is as pathetic to destroy a family for £30 not left in a will.

OP posts:
Bigcat25 · 27/08/2026 23:46

Op's kids are grown.

NoNotDolly · 27/08/2026 23:45

What happens if you and your husband both drop dead next week? Who is going to have your kids. I couldn’t sleep at night knowing these things weren’t in place.

A will isn’t just about money. But I don’t think this post is about a will, it’s about a lack of money.

JustAQuestion12 · 27/08/2026 23:44

Right.

And the ones that don't kick off, the ones that have to deal with it all? Just sucks to be them does it?

And I take offence at the inverted commas as if I've made this up.

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 23:42

@JustAQuestion12 Apologies - just read it was £30. If my kids would honestly kick off and "destroy a family" over £30 then that's on them for being absolutely pathetic!

OP posts:
JustAQuestion12 · 27/08/2026 23:41

Are you not even reading the replies you're getting?

I told you.

£30.

Which has destroyed a family.

You have absolutely no idea what will happen after you die. A will solves so many problems. But you've been told that many many times now.

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 23:39

@JustAQuestion12 I don't know what "much much" is? Do you mean much more?

OP posts:
JustAQuestion12 · 27/08/2026 23:37

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 23:35

@JustAQuestion12 I can guarantee your heartache involved a lot more than just a crappy old wedding ring? Happy to stand corrected though...

I've told you much much it involved.

Who on earth do you think you are? You can't guarantee anything. You know absolutely fuck all about my life.