One of the hardest things about writing your Will can be deciding on what to leave to whom. Many family rifts have been caused by the contents of a Will and people feeling like they have been cheated out of what they believe rightfully belongs to them. So what is the best way to balance your wishes with your family’s expectations in your Will?
Identify problems
One of the key things to managing your family’s expectations is identifying any problems that could arise over your Will. The easiest way to do this is to sit down with your family members individually and casually discussing your Will with them. Find out what they expect or if there any items of sentimental value that they would want.
If you already have rifts between family members, it can be a good idea to not let them know that you are making hard decisions then and there, and it is best not to promise anyone anything but instead indicate that you shall consider their requests when you come to write your Will.
By having these conversations and making notes on who expects what, you can identify any potential conflicts early and see if there any fair ways in which you could solve these problems.
Expecting too much
Having these conversations early on when you are considering your Will also allows you to identify if any family members are expecting more than you are wanting to give them. Some family members have blinders on when it comes to what they think they are entitled to and often don’t consider the effect this will have on other members of the family.
Identifying these family members can help you when it comes to talking to your family about your Will, especially as they can need detailed explanations about why they are not getting what they want from your Will.
Write your Will, then hold a meeting
When you have considered all of your family’s expectation, think about how you want your assets to be divided. As your family will generally only have their own needs in mind, they might not have considered the bigger picture and what others may need as well as legacies you want to leave to charities and local organisations.
If your family’s expectations and your wishes line up, then you have a very easy Will to write. If not, then consider why you want to leave them something different. Make several copies of your Will and gather all of your family together so that you can show them the Will and explain to them why you have chosen to make your decisions. There could be family members who need more than others, for example, one with a disability or degenerative condition that means they need more than those that don’t have those concerns. There could be considerations for grandchildren or great-grandchildren that you have made as well.
Ensure you collect all the copies of the Will back at the end of the meeting so that no changes can be made that you haven’t authorized. And your wishes have been maintained.
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