AAA Display options

The new force combining Age Concern logo & Help the Aged logo

Why make a Will?

Older couple

For many people we live for today and think less about what tomorrow may bring. The thought of our own mortality is something which many of us dread to think about.

This may explain why three out of four people aged under 45, and half of all those aged over 45, fail to make a Will. But drawing up a Will, even with the expert advice of a solicitor, is usually not as expensive as people imagine – and it will mean that your estate will be passed to the people you want to benefit from it.

Mary Murnaghan from Murnaghan Colton Solicitors outlines 6 reasons why we should all make a Will:

  1. Making a Will means you control who benefits from your estate, rather than relying on the rules that apply where there is no Will. These are known as intestacy rules. Did you know that if you die without a Will your spouse or civil partner may not inherit everything.
     
  2. Making a Will is a positive demonstration of generosity. Many of us are busy spending our income whilst we are alive and have limited means to beneSt others. On death, especially if you have a property, there is often a relatively substantial amount of capital which can be divided between individuals and others, like charities, for example.
     
  3. By making a Will you can choose those you trust to be executors. These are the people who will ensure that yourwishes are carried out and administer your estate. Also trustees can be appointed if you wish to include a trust in theWill where you wish to only give limited beneSt to someone, such as child or person with a disability.
     
  4. A Will can appoint guardians for minors, a matter clearly relevant for a family. You would want the reassurance that if you died your children would be in safe hands.
     
  5. Tax considerations have become important for an increasing number of people. This is because the Inheritance Tax threshold has not risen in line with
    inflation, particularly as a result of increases in property prices. By obtaining professional advice and carefully drafting theWill, it may be possible to mitigate much of the tax burden.
     
  6. Regrettably co-habiting partners do not receive protection under the law as it presently stands. A Will is the onlyway to protect a partnerwho is not married or in a civil partnership. Can you honestly think of any good reason now why you shouldn’t make a Will?

  7.  
Will to Change

Will to Change magazine

Our 'Will to Change' magazine explains all about the Will making process and includes a free pull-out Will changer. 

Order a free copy by contacting Linda or Elaine at our office, via our contact form, email info@ageni.org or telephone
028 9024 5729.

Your Age NI

Set your location to see what Age NI offers in your local area.

Age NI Advice:
0808 808 7575
Let's talk money 

Let's talk money publications

  • opens link in new window More money in your pocket booklet
    A guide to claiming benefits for people over pension age. (PDF 164KB)

    opens link in new window Pension Credit leaflet
    3 steps to find out if someone you know qualifies for Pension Credit. (PDF 105KB)


      View all Money matters downloads Help with Downloads

      Downloads

      What is a download?

      A download is a document (like a research report, a leaflet, or an application form) that can be transferred from our website to your computer. You can download a file, view it on your screen, print it, or save it to your computer.

      What is a PDF?

      PDF stands for ‘portable document format’.

      Most downloads on this website are PDFs. We use this format to ensure that the document looks the same on everyone’s computer (website pages, by contrast, appear differently depending on how people have got their computer set up).

      How do I download a PDF?

      Computers use a program called Adobe Acrobat Reader to download PDFs. If you try clicking on a link to download a PDF and it doesn’t work, you will need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader onto your computer.

      How do I install Adobe Acrobat Reader?

      The process is quite straightforward and is free.

      1. Go to opens link in new window http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
      2. Click ‘Download’.
      3. Wait for the window to offer you the option to ‘Run’, then choose this option.
      4. Click ‘Next’.
      5. Click ‘Install’
      6. Wait for the window to offer you the option to ‘Finish’, then choose this option.

      How do I change a download?

      PDFs cannot be changed. If you need to be able to type into a downloaded document (for example, if we are offering a letter template that you need to put your name on) we will provide it as a Microsoft Word document rather than a PDF. You can then download it, type into it and save it to your computer.

      How do I print or save a download?

      Downloads will open on your computer in a new browser window.

      Inside this window (below all your web browser menus), there will be a toolbar with options for you to print or save the document.

      Close the browser window to return to the Age UK website.

      Can my screen reader read PDF downloads?

      We have made every effort to make our PDFs accessible to screen readers. Here is an overview of your accessibility options available in Acrobat Reader. Please ensure that you have downloaded the latest version of Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Reader website to ensure that they are included in your version of the programme.

      You can use Adobe Reader to read a PDF out loud with the following shortcut keys:

      • Read the document: Shift +Ctrl+Y
      • Read the open page only: Shift +Ctrl+V
      • Read to the end of the document: Shift+Ctrl+B
      • Pause: Shift+Ctrl+C
      • Stop Shift+Ctrl+E


      You can also convert a PDF into a web page by following these steps:

      • Copy the URL (web address) of the document (right-click on the link and select ‘Save target as’ or ‘Copy link’).
      • Open the Adobe online conversion tool in your browser and paste the URL into the URL box.
      • Tick the HTML box on the Format option and click ‘Convert’.


      You can convert a PDF document into a text file for use with other software and hardware such as Braille printers by opening the PDF and choosing ‘Save as text’ from the File menu.

      Age NI Advice:
      0808 808 7575
      Age NI staff

      Connect with us

      Talk with us and follow our messages, tweets, videos and photos.

      Useful websites

      Two people talking

      Tell us your story

      Share your first hand accounts of issues or problems that older people are experiencing in relation to public services.

      Share your story

      Close window
      Display options

      Set the appearance of this website so you can read it more easily

      Text size

      Background/foreground


      To see information relating to England, Scotland or Wales set your preference below: