Do I Need a Will?

Although the end of our life is something that we all tend to avoid talking about, choosing what will happen to your assets and personal possessions after you die is extremely important.

Creating a Will is the most common way to ensure that your funds and assets will be distributed according to your wishes.

Many people avoid writing a Will because they believe it will be costly, complex or difficult, that it is unnecessary because their possessions will automatically pass to their spouse or children, or simply to avoid thinking about their own death. However, writing a Will is critically important for all adults regardless of wealth, marital status, or age.

A Will allows you to:

1. Ensure that your money, assets and possessions will be distributed as you wish as fast as possible
   If you die without a Will, the law decides how your estate will be distributed. Although some property will automatically be passed to a spouse or children, exact distribution depends on the value of the property and the terms of title deeds. A Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes will be carried out.
2. Appoint an Executor and/or Trustee
   Writing a Will allows you to decide who will oversee and manage distribution of your estate. Designating a trustworthy and impartial Executor provides peace of mind that the terms of your Will are executed as you would wish.
3. Define your funeral wishes
   Specifying your funeral wishes in your Will reduces stress for loved ones and ensures your body will treated in the way you desire (e.g. burial vs. cremation).
4. Expedite the legal process
   It is generally faster and less costly to settle an estate with a valid Will. Reducing legal fees protects the value of your property and savings to be passed to beneficiaries. When your estate passes in to Probate without a will it can be an extremely lengthy process and can be stressful both emotionally and financially on those that you leave behind.
5. Appoint a Legal Guardian for your children
   Especially in the case of single parents, it is essential that the guardianship of children under the age of 18 be addressed via the Will.

In summary, we would recommend that you make a Will with the correct legal guidance for each country where you have assets or money. Different countries have different laws for dealing with your estate and a Will written in the USA under USA law may not be valid or recognised in the United Arab Emirates for example.