Take care of loved ones with a will

There are more options to create wills than ever before. There is also a lot less inertia around creating wills these days. Like many other industries, wills have adapted to online options that serve all age groups. It’s easier than ever for tech-savvy millennials to have an up-to-date will without needing to meet with a lawyer.

Regardless of age, size of assets or family situation, all individuals and couples can gain peace of mind by having an up-to-date will. It ensures that their loved ones will be taken care of when they eventually pass. The truth is, having a will isn’t just for you: it’s mainly for the loved ones you will predecease.

What are my options?

There are generally three ways to create a will: writing one by hand, hiring a lawyer or using online software or an app.

Handwritten wills (called holographic wills), while inefficient, are common enough and are often used in emergency situations, such as when the writer, known as the testator, is near death or alone. Hiring a lawyer is the traditional choice for wills and estate-planning documents, as the legal advice can help you get all your estate needs in order. An online will-writing service or app is much more affordable and less complex than other options; it is an effective and budget-savvy way for those with simple estate requirements to create a will and other estate-planning documents. The Anglican Diocese of Toronto Foundation has partnered with Willfora to make it easy for you to create your will online. To do so, visit https://give.willfora.com/charities/anglican-diocese-of-toronto-foundation.

When should I create my first will?

There’s no bad time to draft your first will, but there are key events when you should have a will or update your existing will. Essentially, whenever you accumulate something that could be lost, such as wealth or assets, it should be reflected in your will. Here are some important events that should prompt you to create or update your will:

Marriage. A will ensures that in the case of your unexpected death or illness, your spouse will inherit all your assets with ease. Common law couples should also do the same, since, depending on where you live, laws don’t guarantee that your partner will have an easy process of inheriting what you’ve left behind, if that’s what you wanted.

Buying your first house. Having a will ensures that assets like property are left to the right people.

Birth or adoption of your first child. All individuals or couples with children should have a plan to ensure that minors are taken care of in the event of an unexpected passing. This is often a “must update” event, given how the beneficiaries of your estate will need to be changed to reflect your children. Wills are also commonly combined with life insurance at this stage.

Illness or death of a loved one. In these cases, complications can arise if a person dies without an up-to-date will. These situations may prompt you to create a will if you don’t yet have one.

How and when do I update my will?

An important thing to remember is that whenever you draft a new or updated will, your previous document is revoked and null to ensure that you only have one legal will. If you previously drafted a will with your lawyer, updating it will depend on scheduling time to see them again.

Online services make it easy to update your will whenever you want, at no extra cost. This can be as simple as logging into your account and making a few changes every few years or so. If you previously drafted a will with a lawyer and you have simple enough estate requirements for online wills, you could move online or vice-versa.

An additional common practice that many couples have started is a yearly review of their estate plans, including their will; they simply go over everything and track if anything needs to be changed or updated.

The life events listed above are also prompts for when updating your will should be considered.

What other considerations should I make?

An additional consideration for any will is the legacy you want to leave behind, such as for your parish. If you’re ensuring that your loved ones are protected, why not consider protecting something else you care about after you die? For instance, if your estate is valued at $500,000, then one per cent is equal to $5,000, which is more than many people give in their lifetime and can have a momentous impact on your parish.

While this is just one example of how a legacy gift can have an impact on the world, it’s an entirely individual choice. You can decide to support whatever causes you believe in while knowing that your gift will do some good after you die.

Should I tell my family about my will?

Yes! Speaking to your family about your decisions in your will is important for communicating with your assigned executors and guardians, as well as helping them understand the rationale behind leaving gifts to loved ones or charities. While some of these topics may involve uncomfortable conversations, that small amount of discomfort is far less than your loved ones will experience if you don’t make your wishes known to them before you die.

Where can I safely store my will?

Making sure your will is up to date is very important, but don’t forget about keeping it safe, too! There aren’t any official guidelines on where to store your will, but it’s your responsibility to determine the best place so your executor can easily find it when needed.