Why you must make a will
May 8th, 2012Death – particularly our own – is an unpleasant subject that most of us would rather avoid discussing. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that one in three people die without leaving a will, according to HSBC. This is a huge mistake.
The only way to guarantee that on death your assets end up in the hands of your intended beneficiaries is to write a will. Otherwise, Britain’s arcane intestacy rules kick in. These can result in your assets being left to your parents or siblings, rather than the person you’ve shared your life with and any children you have. At the very least, you risk leaving an administrative nightmare behind for your loved ones, which is the last thing they’ll need.
So what should you consider when putting your will together? As a rule of thumb, you want assets to pass down a family tree (for example, from parent to child), or at worst, across it (say to siblings appointed as guardians to your children). You don’t really want assets to pass upwards to your parents, as, unless they need the money, this can trigger an unwanted inheritance tax bill on their death.
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