Ensuring that the people closest to you know about your Will is very beneficial. It means that when the time comes, your family understands your decisions, which will help to reduce stress for your loved ones whilst they grieve and ensures that your wishes can be carried out.

Planning a time to talk 

This step might seem a little formal, but you never know how people will react if you spring a topic like this on them without any notice. Be clear that you’d like to discuss your Will with them and let them know that you’re involving them in this step because they are important to you.

Points to cover

These are some suggestions of the most important things to cover when talking to your family about your Will: 

• Explaining what you want your money to achieve when you’re no longer around. This may include supporting family, friends and a charity close to your heart.
• You might like to introduce some details. You probably won’t feel the need to give precise figures, but perhaps something like ‘I plan to leave Lisa a third of my estate because she will need the support in the future’.
• The stage you have reached in your Will writing process. If you already have a Will in place, this conversation may simply be about letting your loved ones know. If you don’t yet have a Will, you may find it useful to hear your family’s thoughts and suggestions. They could help you write a rough draft of your Will, before enlisting the help of a legal professional, such as our trusted partners at Bequeathed who offer a free basic online Will service.

Ask for suggestions and thoughts on your plan

You should always encourage your family to be open about their thoughts on the issues surrounding your Will before it’s too late. 

Their suggestions will help you see things from a different perspective and may give you some ideas that you hadn’t previously considered. It also gives them a chance to mention any sentimental objects or assets that they’d like to inherit.

Explain that things can change

Remember to stress that circumstances will almost certainly change between the time of your conversation and the time of your death. 

It’s crucial that you review and update your Will as and when your life circumstances change, in order for it to remain accurate and legally valid.