Share your thoughts on Wills with Which? Win £300 voucher or free Will! NOW CLOSED

[RebeccaEMumsnet]

Writing a Will is something that many of us put off, as it’s never a nice subject to talk about and the process can seem confusing, but Which? Wills is hoping to change all that with their online Will writing and Power of Attorney service.

They would love to hear your experience of how you got your Will sorted, or, if you haven’t got around to it yet, what’s putting you off? It would be great to hear your stories of how you decided how you would write your Will, and your tips to those who have yet to do it.

Here’s what Alex Neil, at Which? has to say: "It's important to make a will to ensure that your assets, including your home, savings and belongings, are distributed according to your wishes. It can be very difficult for loved ones to do this if you pass away without having made a will.”

Did the birth of your DCs prompt you to write your Will? Do you think that it’s important to have a Will as a parent, and if so, why?

Whatever your experience (or lack of experience!) of Will writing, we’d love to hear your story so that other Mumsnetters can take advice.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw, and one MNer will win either a £300 Love2Shop voucher or a free Which? Will Writing Service (T&Cs below).

Thanks,

MNHQ
Standard Insight T&Cs apply
Which? Wills prize T&Cs

[rejcomp]

More debts than asserts so seems pointless

[tinkertink2010]

Everyone must have one - I have been in circumstances where a relative didnt have one and the childrens relationships just fell apart as they fought over who got what. A horrible situation for everyone.

[smit23]

I don't have a will, but then I don't think there would be any confusion about the fact that everything would go to one person if I died.
It's something I know I should look into, but no-one in my family has ever left a will that I know of (those that have died whilst I've been alive).. I guess we don't have much to leave!

[cheryl100]

We have a very simple will but because we only have 1 child, there shouldn't be any disagreements anyway! However, it is extremely important to have wills when you are part of a blended family to prevent any arguments. For instance, my Mum remarried and had my sister. Therefore, if anything (God forbid) happened to my Mum, the inheritance would go to her husband, then his daughter....I would get completely missed, IF they decided to be greedy! Hence, they have a will in place!

[Wolpertinger]

So easy and good to have got it out of the way

[VelvetGlove]

Wills are important as they make sure your loved ones are taken care of and make sure that the things you wanted people to have actually go to those people.

This is especially important with family heirlooms.

[pinkspideruk]

I think everyone should have a will. My aunty made her wishes known to the family. She died unexpectedly last year she was only 60 and her husband as her official next of kin went against her wishes and there was nothing we could do about it.

[laurapotz]

I haven't written a will. I think if I died it would all be pretty straight forward but I know I should get round to doing one to be on the safe side.

[jamielmdjs]

I don't have one yet. When we got the mortgage - it was encouraged but with little detail. I think more information needs to be passed on about the perils of not having a will sorted to encourage more people to do it. I know we need to sort one so will action it soon.

[Loftzilla]

I have a will but it needs updating, my sons are now old enough to be executors and there are certain items I want to leave to my granddaughters, who actually show an interest in my old bits of jewellery etc. and one item would be a perfect something old for one of their weddings, in about 20 years! Love the line from Nanny McPhee (which I watched again yesterday) '...when you want me but no longer need me then I have to go', sob!

[emily13]

It's so important to have a will in place, it makes things easier for those you leave behind and if you are part of a couple, it could make things a lot easier for you if the worst should happen.

[emmav6]

it's one of those things i have been meaning to do but just haven't. i have just had my 3rd child and i really need to get my act together

[emmafifema78]

I recently lost a dear friend and it has made me think about not only writing a will but also setting up a life insurance/funeral policy.
I think it's important to have these things in place as you never know when the unexpected will happen, I'm 38 and not in great health. I don't want my family to be left with a world of things to sort out when I do go....I would like to think that I have done everything I can to make it as easy as possible for them as they will be grieving already.
I don't have many possessions but what I do have I'd like to be noted in a will to be left to the right people so there are no arguments to be had amongst family.
Wills are extremely important in my view.

[janemphoto]

I don't think it's necessary to think about a will at the moment, maybe in 10 - 15 years time.

[toodles60]

It's really important to make a will no matter what age. I recently went through an awful time as next of kin of someone who died and they had no will. They were only young and so like most thought they didn't need one I guess. Its left me not knowing what to do with possessions or who to give certain things to.

[melmoo]

It used to worry me not having one but now we do I'm happy. Our simply leaves everything shared between the kids so currently I don't feel the need to change it even though it's been the same for years.

[VickyRsuperstar]

Tbh I hadn't even thought about this in years until I saw this thread! We haven't got an up to date will - the one we have is now way out of date and I'm not even sure where it is! My biggest sticking point is having a larger than average family so I don't have any one person that I could name to be the guardian. I also feel quite awkward to talk to my sisters about it as I don't think either would really want to take on a lot of small children. One has no kids by choice and the other, her kids are grown up. Our parents and inlaws are too old! We should really get on with sorting it out though! This thread is probably the kick up the butt we need!

[alison991]

I would love a will but I am put off because it seems expensie and complicated

[emms88]

It's never nice to think about but making a will is often necessary.

[danikagrace]

As somebody who has helped people deal with probate I can't stress how important it is for adults of any age, nothing should ever be assumed and having your wishes clear makes sure no added confusion and stress is added to an already very difficult time for loved ones.

[TiggersAngel7774]

something i really need to do , but dont seem to find the time to sort it out

[embabes7]

My husband and I have had this conversation very recently, we are going to do our joint Will this year, its a bit more complicated with a split family I think, hence the reason to get it sorted earlier, just in case!!

[Pimmpom]

Still need to do ours, not sure why I keep putting it off. It is always in the back of my mind so I really should just get on and do it.

[kirstycooper01]

I need to write a will, and I do intend to as I've seen feuds over inheritance when the will hasn't been stored properly/ written correctly or just not done at all and it can rip families apart. I also think wills should be stored with the lawyers so no-one can accuse anyone of changing anything on a will.

[mummsie72]

Wills an evil necessity to ensure your assets go to the right people when you pass away. The writing a will means acceptance that one day you will die-one of the main reasons I kept putting off dealing with mine.