Talking wills with Sean
As part of wills Month, we’re introducing you to some of the people at Armstrong Murray who help our clients plan for the future and put their wishes in place.
We sat down with Sean, one of the younger members of our Wills & Estates team, to talk about wills from a younger person’s perspective, whether you really need one in your 20s or 30s, what happens if you don’t own a house, and why making a will is one of those jobs that’s worth ticking off sooner rather than later.
I’m too young, do I really need a will?
Ideally, everyone over the age of 18 should have a will in place. It’s easy to think a will is something you can leave until you’re older, particularly if you don’t have many assets yet. But a will is relevant at any stage of adult life.
It allows you to set out what you would like to happen to your assets if the unexpected happens, as your life changes, your will can change too.
What if I don’t own a house or assets?
You don’t need to own a house or have significant assets to have things worth planning for. You may already have KiwiSaver, money in bank accounts, a vehicle and personal possessions that are important to you.
Having a will allows you to record your wishes about how your estate should be dealt with and who you would like to benefit.
What’s your advice for someone in their 20s or 30s who keeps putting it off
Don’t wait until you think you have enough assets or you’re old enough to need one.
Making a will means taking the time to think about what you would like to happen and the people who matter to you if the unexpected happens.
You can always review and update your will as your circumstances change. The important thing is to make a start.
Thinking about making your first will?
Wills Month is a great opportunity to tick one of those “I’ll get around to it” jobs off your list and put your wishes in place.
If you’re not sure where to start, please reach out to Sean or our Wills & Estates team. They are here to make the process easy and talk you through what’s involved.
This article is brief and general in nature. You should not treat it as legal advice and should seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters dealt with in this post. Armstrong Murray accepts no liability for losses suffered by any person or organisation who may rely directly or indirectly on this article.
