Making a Will in your 20s and 30s: Thinking about the unthinkable

When you’re in your 20s or 30s, there’s always something more important than making a Will to focus on.

And you’re not alone in thinking that way. According to Royal London, 54% of UK adults don’t have a Will in place.

But this means that if they were to die without making a Will, the state would decide what to do with their assets. Dying without a Will means that your wishes might not be adhered to.

This could leave certain loved ones with nothing. It could also mean that the wrong people inherit your assets.

So why should you think about making a Will when you’re still young?

Think of your family

For most people, the most important reason to take the time to make a Will is to provide for family. For peace of mind, a Will is the best option to secure your family’s future. If you have kids, you’ll want to ensure they’re provided for. You can also use your Will to set out who should look after your kids if both their parents should pass away. This could avoid a lot of unpleasant conflict between relatives after you’re gone.

The younger you are, the less likely it is you’ll be married or in a civil partnership. This means that if you’re in a relationship, your boyfriend or girlfriend won’t be provided for if you die without a Will. You might think that your wishes will be adhered to and whoever inherits your assets will look after your partner, but this is certainly not guaranteed. Despite what many think, common law marriages don’t legally exist, so unmarried partners don’t receive if there is no Will.

Digital assets

If you run websites, blogs and social media accounts or have a lot of photos and other items stored online, you might want to think about leaving them to someone to take control of. You can set out your wishes for these accounts in your Will. This can include leaving them as they are, turning them into memorial pages or removing them completely.

We live in a digital world now, so the chances are high that you’ll have numerous online accounts. Cryptocurrency, online payment accounts and even gaming credits are hugely important to consider as they have monetary value, which can be left to someone in your Will. Appointing someone to control these accounts makes sense. Just remember not to leave your passwords in the Will itself, but rather instructions on how to access your various accounts.

Your funeral

A Will can be used to set out your wishes for your funeral. So if you’ve thought about what you’d like for yours, it’s certainly worth making a Will to detail what you want. This can include your preference when it comes to burial vs cremation. If your wishes contrast with your family’s religious beliefs, for example, it’s best to have them set out in writing. This way, what you want can’t be disregarded.

This also highlights the importance of choosing the right executor. They’ll be responsible for arranging your funeral, so choosing the right person will mean your wishes are listened to. Funeral wishes aren’t legally binding, so if you can rely on your executor, you’ll be more likely to have the funeral you want.

Your home

If you own your home, what happens to it when you’re gone may not be a foregone conclusion. This is true if you own it with your partner as tenants in common. This form of ownership means that if you die, your share of the property doesn’t automatically go to your partner. It may end up going to your closest relatives, which could be your parents. If this isn’t what you want to happen, a Will can solve the problem.

The best way of ensuring your wishes are carried out after your death is to make a Will. And once you’ve decided to do that, the most important thing to do is to ensure it’s legally valid. A solicitor can help you tick all the right boxes. To find out how First4Lawyers can help you find the right lawyer, just start your enquiry here.