To think that wills should be public documents

[GnomeDePlume]

before the testator dies.

Not a TAAT but so many times in RL and on MN I have heard about wills which do the opposite of what was intended or which make assumptions about who should/should not benefit from an estate.

If the will was public then any potentially interested person could read the will. If they dont agree with it then they can raise it with the testator.

As wills are often made many years before the testator dies clauses which seemed perfectly fair at the time can become out of date (eg leaving an estate to named grandchildren can seem like a nice thing until a late arriving grandchild is born and not being named is effectively disinherited).

The testator has to own the decisions they have made rather than leave the executor to deal with everything whe there is nothing they can do to change things.

Gnome this is the most ridiculous idea I have ever heard - genuinely.
Please think about it at length. When my DFather made his will I helped him with it and went with him to the solicitor. He was young and of sound mind. I lodged my will at the same time but had he been a bit dotty, I was in a perfect position to lean on him to make is skewed to me and he would have felt he had no choice. Come on FFS!

Didn’t mean to post a rude response OP.

I’m currently dealing with cf greedy distant relatives, so your initial post struck a nerve.

In terms of Wills &bequests it’s the people’s choice where their valuables, money etc goes.

It isn’t for other to pipe up a say ‘don’t forget that time I wiped your arse’.

KooMoo

You are making assumptions about me. I am not thinking about my own situation as there isnt a lot to inherit from above (DM's extensive collection of old crafting bits and pieces arent going to be a legacy I will be pursuing!)

DH and I have wills. They are open to our DCs (who are all adults) to look at as they want.

Wills come up frequently on MN often when verbally stated intentions are not matched by the will. People can make whatever provision they like, making a will public at the time of writing (it becomes public in the end anyway) means that those provisions are a matter of record rather than something which comes out when it is too late to change.

I've never known anyone be 'bullied and manipulated' into caring for an elderly relative.

But I've known dozens of cold-eyed, grasping shits who have 'cared ' in the cynical expectation of a cash win down the line. It's not 'caring' as i understand it.

Aso what HBStowe said.

I'm pissed off that house selling prices are a matter of public record let alone this.

Millennial?

Terrible idea OP.

Such an invasion of privacy.

Millennial?

I’m a millennial. Stop making prejudicial assumptions.

One of the most ridiculous ideas, I think I’ve ever seen on here.

What does your will say OP?

This is the most idiotic idea I've ever seen being spouted on here. You really do lack the ability to think critically and evaluate an idea from all aspects.

I think that's a resounding "it's nobody's business "

What does your will say OP?

lol

Yes OP, how much do you have to leave- and who are you leaving it to?
We need to know.

It’s up to the person to decide who to leave their money to, not their relatives.

I can understand that maybe you want to iron out any misleading wills before the person dies.

A person has the right to leave all his/her money to the Cats Protection League, even if they verbally told told their offspring that they were inheriting the family fortunes. If it were made public, the person’s wishes may not be adhered to.

Absolutely not, and if there are people out there only looking after relatives because they'll 'get something when they're gone' instead of because it's the decent thing to do, then quite frankly it serves them right....

What a horrendous idea! My will is quite detailed as to who gets what of my personal posessions and it's got fuck all to do with the general snooping public what I own or who gets to own it when I die.

What do you want next, OP? Bank statements made public so you can all see how much money I have and what I spend it on?

YABU and a nosy fucker into the bargain. I take it you didn't inherit what you thought you were entitled to?

Ah a public list available to fraudsters of which elderly person has what and who it's going to..... Can't see a problem there

What a bloody awful thought: everything you own and possess being made public knowledge. Seriously?
And a law that makes greedy grabber relatives able to make a case for a loved ones money? They have no right to it whatsoever. It’s entirely up to the testator whom they leave their money too.

Also, if this idea came into law, people would end up just not making wills! This would lead to even more legal wrangling later.

People can make whatever provision they like, making a will public at the time of writing (it becomes public in the end anyway) means that those provisions are a matter of record rather than something which comes out when it is too late to change

But why should it be changed? That was the will the testator wanted to make, regardless of whether their “loved ones” like it.

Death brings out the worst in people. Or rather the thought of "what am I going to make out of this" does.
Great aunt a of mine had a medical payout before they died, her will, left everything to my Nan. Other great aunt b got a sniff of some money, and tried to get aunt a to make a new will leaving half to her. Fortunately the people they asked to witness the will as A wasn't of sound mind, so it would have been worthless anyway. Most of the money went to pay for the care, a small amount was left over, after paying debts, so my Nan paid for the funeral. Aunt b never offered a penny towards the funeral or any other costs that left my Nan out of pocket. And continued to ask when she'd get her money.

If you are only caring for someone for a payout that might not happen then you're in the wrong. You should do it cause you care.

Rubbish idea. Everyone has the right to do as they please with their money. If that means leaving it all to the local dog and cat home then fine, it's their money.

eg leaving an estate to named grandchildren can seem like a nice thing until a late arriving grandchild is born and not being named is effectively disinherited

But any decent lawyer would advise never to do that. We made our wills when we had two children, we now have three. The will was written along the lines of "our children Jane and John, and any future children who may be born of our marriage".

No way. What an invasion of privacy and I fear it’d cause all sorts of manipulative behaviour.

My MIL had stated in hers that one of her dd’s should be left nothing. The other 2 siblings were both aware of this but had agreed they’d not honour it. However, the dd found the will. She created situations and has basically managed to ensure that there is nothing left for the will to be valid. MIL sold her home, sil profited, second home is in dd name now. There is barely anything left. She has it all.

No bad idea
My sister (1of 4 of us) found out that in mums will she will inherit 50% of the house and has since been a nightmare especially on the subject of selling the house so mum can move into care. It's her inheritance so she guards it with care... sod the fact that mum is still in need of it!
I wish the contents of mums will had remained private until her death because of the shit it's caused, mind you, part of it could have been solved by not being so random and unequal- can't be changed now as mum has dementia and lacks capacity.
I never expected to inherit anything but did find out that I was right except I do get the dubious honour of having to execute the shitstorm that will follow mums death.... thanks mum.

I look after my mum despite the fact that I don't really like her because her Alzheimer's makes her vulnerable and it's the right example for my kids as the right thing to do. It's not because I ever expected to get anything for it - it is definitely thankless.

That would be horrendous. Death and dying brings out the worst in people as it is.

If wills were public documents then even less people would make one that do already.