GETTING people to make a will is a difficult task: younger people don't think there is any urgent need for one; older people don't like to acknowledge the passing of time while many other simply don't want to face the truth that like the paying of taxes, death is inevitable.
Last year, several hundred solicitors grouped together to set up WillAID Ireland, a charitable organisation which supports four charities through donations from clients who have had their wills drawn up free of charge by the participating solicitor. This year WillAID week, which is being sponsored by Canada Life, runs from February 1st to 29th.
The four WillAID charities are Oxfam, Gorta, Actionaid Ireland and the Rehab Foundation, each of which will benefit from the recommended £30 donation for drafting a straightforward Will. Couples who wish to make matching wills will be asked to donate £50. You can also leave a charitable bequest to the charity in your own will.
It is estimated that about half the adult population in the Republic has not made a will. Dying intestate results in considerable delays in the transfer of the deceased person's estate, but can also cause financial difficulties where a business or commercial property is involved. Intestacy can also result in considerable aggravation between extended family members.
Before making an appointment with a solicitor to make a will, you should first prepare a careful summary of your assets, locate all the pertinent documents, such as house deeds, share certificates, deposit books etc., and then make a list of bequests. Couples with dependent children nearly always leave their entire estates to each other but you may still wish to leave a cash gift or other belongings to someone else.
Parents never expect to leave their children orphaned, but this unlikely event should be addressed in a joint will and legal guardians should be named. A will trust can also be arranged at the same time which makes financial provisions for the children and guardians and deals with the tax implications of such an inheritance. Parents who do not name legal guardians for their children risk having the matter dealt with by the courts, and the guardian it appoints may not be the person the parents would have chosen.
The WillAID scheme is designed for setting up fairly straightforward wills and you may want to ask the participating solicitor if the £30 or £50 donation (for joint wills) applies where a will trust needs to be set up.
Anyone who wants to find their nearest participating solicitor can call the WillAID helpline at 1850-214420.
