You’ve seen the scenes of airport and rail chaos, as, following removal of Covid restrictions, we’re spreading our wings again. It hasn’t been good, and no-one can say for sure when/if it will improve. This article from The Guardian is full of travel tips around the ongoing travel chaos and flight cancellations. As is this one from The Times. But what neither of them mention is your Will. Yes – that’s right – your Will.
Planning ahead
We’ve established that, when you’re going on holiday there’s tons to think about – and that’s in the best of circumstances. And even if you do have writing/updating your Will on your things-to-do-before-I-go-away list, is it right at the top. If it’s not – it should be -because it’s far from ideal to try and get a Will drafted two days before you head to Gatwick. You won’t have the literal time or the emotional energy to give considered thought to what you want your Will to say. What you’ll end up with is a stop-gap Will – because you’re sure to have to revise it later.
Isn’t it better by far to allow yourself enough time? Time to give all due attention to such minefields as inheritance tax, let alone who gets the china cabinet and the pot dogs. Do that, and you can buckle up your plane seatbelt and enjoy all the delights, or otherwise, of modern economy flight, safe in the knowledge that your Will is appropriate and future-proof
After all, it’s hard enough selecting which sandals and sundresses to pack without worrying about your Will.
Avoid Panic Buying
With every summer season that comes around, I’m taken by surprise by the number of calls I get from soon-to-be-sunseekers in a flat spin, wondering if they can get a Will drafted before they board their plane.
I get the impression that the imminent holiday prompts them to remember that they still haven’t done their Will. In particular this is common when the whole family is travelling together. Their collective imaginations go into a tailspin. ‘What if the plane crashes? What if something happens while we’re away?’
Then there’s fear of a terror attack. At this point I’m duty-bound to point out that statistics show that flying is the safest way to travel. We all know that crossing the road or riding a bus is likely to be more dangerous. But when did logic ever prevail in these situations?
All I know is, that out of all the reasons why people to decide to draft their Will, my long experience of Will writing tell me that going on holiday is high on the list.
What can you do now?
Don’t leave it until the last minute! Talk to a professional like myself, now and get your Wills drafted while you’ve got the time and energy to think about it. And that’s not when you’re trying to pack for a holiday and have dozens of things to do in what feels like the same time frame.
Note too that some professionals may charge a premium for writing a Will in a short space of time. So that’s another cost to bear if you leave it until the last minute.
If you have left it to the last minute then a stop-gap Will may be the way to go – with a view to revisiting it when you come home. Again, this may well add to the costs.
What information do you need to put in my Will?
If you have left it to the last minute and are going on holiday in the next couple of weeks, here are some essentials that your Will must cover.
- Decide on who you want to be your Executors. Then ask them if they’re willing to take on that responsibility and get their full names and addresses. If you’re a married couple, for example, the survivor might act as the Executor and it’s only if you both die that you’ll need to appoint replacements. These could be your adult children?
- Decide on who will act as a guardian for your children under 18. Again, make sure they’re willing and then get their full names and addresses.
- Decide on who the beneficiaries will be. If you’re married with children, you may leave your estates to each other and then the children. If disaster befalls the entire family, which is what people worry about pre-holiday, who will you then name as the beneficiaries in your Wills? You’ll need their full names and addresses too.
These are the main elements for a Will. But you also need to think about such things as inheritance tax, your funeral wishes and any legacies you might want to leave.
I trust this will help you make the necessary decisions. It will help you to save time when you speak to the professional drafting the Will. Because you’ve already made some of the decisions needed and have the information to hand for them it’ll be an easier process.
How can I help?
If you’ve booked your holiday and know you need a Will, contact me now. Allow at least one week before you go on holiday.
If there’s enough time to draft a well-considered Will that is appropriate for you, I’m more than happy to do it. If you’re in any doubt, call me and we’ll see if there is anything I can do to help.
I want you to go away, enjoy your holiday and know that you’ve already sorted out your Wills and have nothing more than your footwear and cardigan needs to fret about. So, pick up the phone and let’s make sure you’re only thinking happy holiday thoughts before you go away this year!
Don’t delay, contact me at info@swindonwillwriting.co.uk or drop me a line at: 07538946839.