WE ARE A MAGAZINE ABOUT LAW AND JUSTICE | AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO
September 07 2024
WE ARE A MAGAZINE ABOUT LAW AND JUSTICE | AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO
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Is it worth making a will?

Is it worth making a will?

Yes. For unmarried couples, wills are doubly-important. It is estimated that two-thirds of people never get round to making a will. Put starkly: if you aren’t married to your partner (or aren’t in a civil partnership – see later) and die before you make a will, your partner won’t automatically inherit anything from you. By law, it is irrelevant how long you have been together or how much you love your other half. Everything will go to the nearest blood relative.

Not only that, but there are other good reasons to make a will:

You can appoint a guardian for your children to look after them if you and anyone else with parental responsibility die, and ensure they will be provided for (see below).
You can select the person to sort out your affairs after your death, otherwise it is the nearest relative.
You can state your wishes for your funeral.
You can leave a particular type of tenancy to protect loved ones from having to find a new home after your death.
You might not have much in life but your estate could receive a compensation or death in service payout which, without a will, would go to a blood relative and not your partner.

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