Maurice Blackburn Lawyers is today urging all Australians over the age of 18 to add drafting a Will to their New Year's to-do list, saying too many people still did not have a Will despite a Will being vital irrespective of age or financial position
Maurice Blackburn national head of Wills and Estates Law Andrew Simpson said more than half of Australians do not have a Will, and the New Year is the perfect time to act on this.
"We know from our own research that more than half of Australians do not have a Will and of those, almost 40% have no idea what happens to their assets if they pass away without a Will," Mr Simpson said.
"That's why we are urging all Australians to add drafting a Will to their New Year to-do list – this is a time when many people typically try to get things organised for the year ahead and this must include a Will.
"People are often good at ensuring they have things like house and car insurances in place, but we know this does not extend to Wills – despite a Will being a crucial document that protects all of your assets and your wishes.
"Our research has also shown that of those surveyed (approximately 1,200 respondents nationally aged 18 years and over), 40% of people without a Will had thought about making one but were yet to do so, while 30% felt they didn't have anything of value to leave.
"This reflects what we hear each day – that a significant proportion of the Australian adult population don't have a Will, that those who don't have a Will are highly misinformed about why a Will is important, with many people in the dark about what actually happens if you pass away without a Will, including the difficulties this may pose for your family," he said.
Mr Simpson said another barrier to people seeking a Will was the misconception that preparing a Will could be a difficult and time consuming process, irrespective of their circumstances.
"Drafting a Will is crucial, and that's why it is important to make this process as time efficient and simple as possible," Mr Simpson said.
"That's why our firm is launching a new online Wills platform from this week that will allow people to complete an application for a Will in their own time and in their own environment, but with the comfort of this still being drafted by a lawyer – using the best of technology to make Wills more accessible."
