WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY...

MAKING SURE YOUR WISHES ARE CARRIED OUT AFTER YOUR DEATH IS SIMPLE IF YOU FOLLOW THESE RULES.

- BY CAMILLA FOSTER

WRITING a will can feel morbid and unsettling, which is why it’s often one of those life admin tasks that gets repeatedly postponed.

However, planning for the future isn’t just for the elderly or the ultra-wealthy - it’s essential for anyone with assets or loved ones who rely on them.

To clear up some common myths about wills, we spoke with experts who shared some compelling reasons why creating a will sooner rather than later is a wise move - and how it can offer some peace of mind.

What age do most people write a will?

“On average, our customers at Farewill write their wills at 45, that’s the mean age, but there is a pretty big spread in ages,” says Dan Garrett, co-founder of Farewill, the UK’s largest will-writing company, and chief growth officer at Dignity Funerals Ltd.

“So, the ages go all the way down to 18, which is the legal minimum. We have also got a 108-year-old on our books as well.”

However, Fiona Mainwaring, head of wills and probate at Midlands law firm ORJ Law, comments that the primary motivations for writing or updating a will are usually major life events rather than age itself.

“People tend do it in stages. For example, when people write a will in their 20s something usually triggers it, like purchasing property or having children,” says Fiona.