Tragic cases prove that a will is not just for the old

Published on Friday 13 March 2009 19:11

TO SOME, having a will is something that is associated with being old, suffering from an incurable illness, or even death. But the tragic stories of Jade Goody, told at 27 that she had weeks to live, and Wendy Anderson, a mother of five who sadly passed away from an aneurysm two days after giving birth, reminds us that we're not invincible.

It may not seem important in the bigger picture, but having a will is an extremely considerate thing to do, making a difficult time slightly easier for those left behind. The beauty of a will is that it brings a great deal of peace of mind as it clearly states in black and white who is entitled to what. You should particularly be thinking about making one if you have recently come into money, started living with someone or had a child.

In the sad case of Wendy Anderson, this was a woman who not only had a smart head on her shoulders, but who was clearly devoted to her family and took the time to ensure that her children would be adequately provided for after her death.

In her will she stated that each of her five children will be entitled to a share of her 3.3 million fortune when they reach the age of 30. Had she not had a will, then each of her children would have been entitled to their share of her estate on their 16th birthday, which many parents believe is too young.

Most of us try not to think about dying, but we need to ensure that our families will be cared for when we're no longer around. Having a will shouldn't be something scary that we put off.

Lianne Lodge is a solicitor at Pagan Osborne.