Do I need a will? You may have pondered this question at some point in your life, but procrastination soon set in. Or perhaps you thought it would be difficult, time-consuming or costly – and put the matter on ice. Besides, if you’re like most people, thinking about your passing isn’t high on your list of enjoyable things to do.

But what if we told you that preparing a Will is a simple, quick and inexpensive way to ensure that your affairs are managed smoothly after you are gone? Plus, the peace of mind it provides is priceless.

Here are some of the reasons why a Will is such an important document.

You can provide for the people you love

A Will is a legal document that states exactly what you want to happen to the life you have built, should the unexpected happen. You can decide how you’d like your estate to be divided – making sure that each asset goes exactly to the right people, at the right time. If you have young children, you can also appoint a legal guardian to take care of them.

Lastly, bear in mind that having a Will in place could make it much easier for your family and friends to deal with your estate at an already difficult time.

You may have more to leave than you think

According to independent research commissioned by Perpetual Guardian, unfortunately nearly four in 10 New Zealanders don’t have a valid Will. As we said, procrastination and misunderstanding around costs are among the main inhibitors. Also, some may believe they’re too young or that they don’t have enough assets to warrant making a Will.

As a matter of fact, if you look at what you’ve built and achieved so far, you might find that you have more than you expect. A house, KiwiSaver, investments, insurance policies – yes, they all count as assets, and you can pass their value on to your loved ones.

Keeping up with your life

Once you have a Will, it’s important to keep it up-to-date as the years go by. Your Will should reflect your situation at all times, that’s why you may need to review it whenever a big life change occurs. The birth of a child, a separation, the purchase of a house… These are all life events that could affect your Will.

As we said, it would be great to have a chat and talk about your wishes. Remember, writing a Will is one of the most significant things you can do for yourself and your family – and it can be done in just minutes.

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