Do I need a Will?
We all live in the hope of leaving a positive mark on the world. Nobody wants to be remembered by the stress and legal mess that arises because they forgot to plan for the day when they - in the wise words of Monty Python - “kick the bucket, cease to be, shuffle off our mortal coil, push up the daisies and go to join the choir invisible.”
At Abbotts and Co Lawyers, it’s our passion to help you thoughtfully craft a personalised estate plan which secures your legacy and protects your loved ones.
We know that preparing a will is more than signing a bit of paper, it should be a ‘life review’ experience. We help our clients to step back, look at their life and take stock of what matters most.
ESTATE PLANS FOR EVERYONE.
What is a Will
and why do I need one?
Your will is your final word; it sets out who you would like to receive the benefit of your life’s work, and who you trust to see your plans though. To be blunt every adult needs a will. Doing a will – and doing it well – is adulting 101.
“Hold on, I’m still in my prime!”
Perfect; the best time to fix the roof is while the sun is shining! At Abbotts and Co we are on a crusade to get a decent estate plan for everyone, be they 18 or 81.
But we get it, thinking about death is kind of a bummer and it’s much easier to pretend you’re invincible. We encourage you to think about the satisfaction that will come from ticking this off your ‘to do list,’ and once it's done your mum may stop pestering you about it.
“But I don’t own lots of stuff!”
Wills are not just for the wealthy. We all have important stuff to consider, such as who will look after your young children, what will happen to your superannuation, and who gets to inherit your rare Pokémon cards.
You may also want to think about your digital assets, who would you like to control your insta account or get access to your internet search history (Do I have your attention now?).
“I did a Will years ago, is it still fresh?”
A will does not have an expiry date. However, as our lives change it is important that our will remains fit for purpose. Despite your Spotify still firing out bangers from the 90’s, it’s likely that your life looks much different today.
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• Moved in with a serious partner.
• Married or entered a de-facto partnership.
• Separated or divorced.
• Started a family or extended your family (this includes fur babies).
• Lost a loved one.
• Started a business.
• Won the lotto and bought a super yacht.
Just like with our cars, we should regularly lift the hood on our estate plan and check the gauges.
At Abbotts and Co we take the stress out of this for you with our annual “Will Alignment Program”, where we check in with you to ensure everything is in order and as it should be.
“But I already have a will so
I’m all set, right?”
Think again! Keep in mind that a will only ‘kicks in’ on your death and if you are reading this you likely have a fair amount of living left to do.
If you already have a will in place you may consider also preparing a Power of Attorney and/or Enduring Guardian Document to provide peace of mind for your living years.
“What about using a Free Legal Will Kit”
A will is likely to be the most important document you ever sign. Due to their specific legal requirements, it’s never recommended that you “have a swing at it” yourself (i.e. via a post office kit or cheap online platform).
A cheap or free will kit may end up costing your estate significantly more money to overcome the errors. Like cosmetic surgery, your estate planning is not an area where you should cut every corner; do not botch your legacy.
At Abbotts and Co Lawyers, we provide reasonable Fixed Fee Estate Planning Products with our focus being on value and providing products specially designed for you.
Our personal and inclusive approach to Estate Planning.
We understand that every family tree is unique and colourful. With our commitment to down-to-earth, non-judgemental service we do our best to make our clients feel comfortable and empowered to make the decisions which are right for them.
Complete this form to book your free phone consultation to discuss how we can assist to lock in your legacy and ensure peace of mind around what matters the most.