Why You Should Write a Will in Your Thirties and How to Do It

Your thirties are usually a season of big milestones: getting on the property ladder perhaps, becoming more senior at work, getting married, getting pets, or having children. As our responsibilities grow and lives become more complicated, writing a will becomes incredibly important.

In this guide, we're going to explain why that is and how to go about writing one. It also includes a helpful link so that you can write your own will for free.

What is a Will?

Your will, or your Last Will & Testament, is a legally binding document that lays out how you want your assets to be divided and your wishes for after you’ve died.

Why is it Important to Have a Will?

Writing a will is an important piece of life-admin to tick off.

Having a will lets you have a say after you’re gone about the things you really care about: it’s where you decide what happens to your assets, your home, or who looks after your children if you are a parent, or your pets if you have any.

It’s especially important to have a will if:

• You’re a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of 18.
• You own a home.
• You’re in a relationship, but aren’t in a civil partnership or married.
• If you’ve just got married, entered a civil partnership, have got a divorce or are separating.
• You want to have a say in where your possessions go after you die.
• You own a business.
• You want to make the lives of the people you leave behind easier.

No matter what assets you have or your situation, having an up-to-date will helps to save time, money, and stress for the people you leave behind.

In short, dying without a will leaves a headache for the people you love. It costs £9,700 on average for the people left behind, and it means more paperwork, hours of admin, and stress for them too, all when they need it the least.

Writing a will isn’t for you. You’ll never use it. Instead, it’s a gift you can give the people you love to make their lives easier when it matters the most.

Debunked: What are Common Myths About Wills?

You’re too young to write a will in your 30s

People may think that writing a will is something you only need to do at the end of your life. In fact, more than 1 in 5 of expert will writers, Octopus Legacy’s, customers are under 35.

Writing your first will is often tied to big life events - getting married (or divorced), having children, buying a home, building up savings, and starting a business.

Having a will protects and makes life easier for the people you love, like your partner or children, and safeguards any major assets you own, like your house or savings. Hopefully, it won’t be needed for many years to come – but having one means if the worst were to happen, you have a plan in place.

You don’t own enough to need a will

It’s often assumed that only the mega-rich need a will. But it’s simply not true. If any one of the following applies to you then a will is worth having:

• You own a home
• You have any money in savings
• You have multiple bank accounts, and what you own is spread out in multiple places
• You own special items (whether they have monetary value or not) that you want to go to specific people
• You just want to save the people you love time and money by putting a plan in place.
• You have children under 18

Not having a will is fine – if I were to die, I’m sure my assets would go to the right people

Dying without having a will is called ‘dying intestate’ and it means that the law determines where your assets end up, and who is responsible for your children. One size doesn’t always fit all – and this doesn’t suit everyone. For example, if you have a long-term partner, but you’re not married or in a civil partnership, they wouldn’t inherit anything, unless you specify otherwise in a will.

Most people want to have a say in something as important as what happens to the people and things they care about after they’re gone.

How to Write a Will for Free

Option 1: A DIY Will

A DIY will can be a valid legal document if done correctly. You must be over 18, of sound mind, and sign the will in the presence of two witnesses who are not beneficiaries. The will should clearly list your assets, name beneficiaries, appoint executors, and include provisions for any children or debts. It's important to use clear language to avoid disputes. While DIY wills are cost-effective, they carry risks.

The risks of writing your own will are:

• Errors in wording or witnessing could make the will invalid.
• Complex estates (multiple properties, overseas assets, etc.) may require legal expertise.
• If it’s unclear, your will could lead to disputes among beneficiaries.

Option 2: A Free Will Via a Charity

Many organisations offer free will-writing services, often in partnership with charities. Often the organisation and charity will cover the cost of the will, but you don’t have to leave anything to charity unless you want to.

Leading will writer Octopus Legacy has partnered with charities across the UK, so that you can write or update your will for free, until October 31st.

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Follow this link to claim your free will

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You can write your will in whatever way suits you best: online, over the phone, or face-to-face.

The cost of the will is covered by whichever charity you choose – many choose to leave a gift to charity as a thank you, but it isn’t required. Last year, this campaign helped raise an estimated £12.3 million for charity.

Write your will for free

You can write your will in a few simple steps:

1️⃣ Click this button or follow this link.

Your free will

2️⃣ Choose a charity to write or update your will with from the list provided.

3️⃣ Choose the right will writing service for you.

4️⃣ Lay out your wishes:

• • Over the phone or in person in an appointment with one of our experts.
  • Online by following the step-by-step process.

5️⃣ Legal experts will review your will.

6️⃣ Your will is sent to you with instructions on how to sign it, making it legally binding.

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