Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone. And most of us don’t take this simple fact as seriously as we should while we’re in our reproductive years.
Some people consider making a will to be something they’ll do towards the end of life. But if you have children on the way, or if you already have children, having an up to date, valid will is more important than you might think.
BellyBelly writer and doula, Victoria Karalun, says:
“We got a will as soon as our son was born. The main reason was my husband’s family was abusive to him as a child, and abusive to us both as adults.
“We wanted to safeguard against our son going to live with them if something happened to us”.
On the other hand, Emily Brittingham, fellow BellyBelly writer, mother of three, and currently pregnant with twins, doesn’t have a will. She says:
“I don’t have a will, although I believe it’s important to have one! Time and knowledge are my reasons for not yet having one, but I think doing it online would be a great option”.
2020 was a year of uncertainty for many of us. Now that New Year celebrations are done and dusted, it’s time to tick this very important task off your low priority to-do list. You know the one – the list you don’t look at very often, at the very bottom of your ‘piling’ system.
Births and deaths are the most common life events to spark family blowups – and they are the very times you least want conflicts to come to the fore.
A will is your last message to your loved ones. Clarity about your wishes is so important.
Have you considered…
- Executors: Who should manage your estate after you die?
- Guardians: Who do you want to look after your children?
- Carers for your pets: Who will look after Fluffy and Rex?
- Funeral service: How would you like your funeral to be celebrated?
- Residuary estate: Who do you want most of your estate to go to?
- Gifts: What gifts do you want to leave to the people who are special to you?
- Minor beneficiaries: How old should minor children be when they inherit?
It’s very simple to formalise your requests into a legal format.
You can arrange a meeting with a professional will writer, such as State Trustees or your solicitor, to write your will. Or, if your circumstances are straight forward, you can do it online.
The quick 27-second video below…
You’ll feel so relieved once it’s done. You’ll be able to sleep at night and have peace of mind for you and your children, or children-to-be, knowing this underestimated but very important piece of life admin has finally been attended to.
Make a commitment to yourself and your family. Don’t make any more excuses about why you haven’t made a will.
With State Trustees’ easy online will service, all you need do is put aside 30 minutes of your time.
Making a will is much easier and more affordable than you might imagine.
It’s time to think differently about this often ignored but critical piece of life admin.
No matter how straightforward or boring you think your circumstances might be, having a will makes sure everyone is clear about what you want for your children, and what you’d like to happen to your money and other personal effects.
Interested in receiving a State Trustees Online Will For FREE? (Value $120)
State Trustees is a State Government owned company – the public trustee for Victoria. They have a long history of experience in helping protect the financial affairs and legacies of Australian families.
They’re offering a FREE online will to three of BellyBelly’s fans, in exchange for sharing their experiences of going through the process of completing their will with State Trustees.
Do you want to feel secure about your wishes for your family being taken care of, and save money at the same time?
Register your interest in being one of our VIP road testers. Just fill in our form below, and you could be one of our lucky participants. Only successful applicants will be contacted.
Please note that an online will is not suitable in all cases.
For example, if any of the following statements apply, you should instead meet with a professional will writer, such as State Trustees or your solicitor, who will prepare your will with you.
An online will is not suitable if:
- You are planning to get married soon. (Marriage revokes a will, so it is better to see a will writer or wait until afterwards.)
- You have children from an earlier relationship.
- You are separated from a spouse or partner, and you have not settled your property division.
- You want to leave certain people out of your will who might have expected to inherit, or leave them less than they might have expected.
- You have some “complex assets” – such as an interest in a business, or an investment in a trust or company – or some of your assets are overseas.
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