Legacy myths

If I die without a will, my partner will get everything.

Dream on. They will get something if you are married or in a legally recognised civil partnership, for example, but not necessarily everything. If you don’t make a will, the State steps in and applies a one-size-fits-all will to your estate. This is known as The Laws of Intestacy and is extremely unlikely to fit with your wishes. (See No will means Intestacy)

Which will would you prefer, your own will or the State's? The choice is yours.

Making a will tempts fate. It's like signing your own death warrant.

Rubbish. If that was true, undertakers would have hearses waiting outside solicitors' offices to take away all those will-makers who've dropped dead. On the contrary, making a will is a life-affirming thing to do. It makes you feel good to have done the best thing for your nearest and dearest. So make your will and then go out and live life to the full.

On average, people who leave legacies to charity live three to four years longer than those who don't include a charity in their wills. (Smee and Ford) This one, believe it or not, is true.

Making a will through a solicitor is horrendously expensive.

It is only if you consider that around £100 is too much to pay to protect your family in the event of your death. However, you can get discounts and even free offers. (See Low cost will making)

I recommend consulting a solicitor when making a will.

Wise's Whimsical Wills
When leaving legacies to charities, check the spelling. Legacies have been left to 'Dr Bananas', 'Dr Barbados', 'The Association of Jewish Referees', 'The Plastics Society' and my favourite one, 'The British Legless Servicemen's Association'.