Photo: ~Oryctes~ / Flickr

Your eyes probably glazed over as you glanced over the title of this article. You’re young, on your way up the career ladder. You’ve barely begun making your mark on the world. Why would you even need to think about your possible demise? Good question. The answer really is that you’re not too young to write a will. It’s a widespread misconception that you should wait until you’re older and married to get your affairs in order. The earlier, the better.

If not taxes, then death

It’s not something that most of us think about. Dying is generally the last thing on our mind. No pun intended. We’re bombarded with messages about life and living it to the full. We’re daily encouraged to purchase skin care products and undergo treatments that will prolong our lives and looks. Some conflicting philosophies tell us to live like there’s no tomorrow. But what happens when there is no tomorrow? Are you leaving a mess behind for your family to sort out? Even if you have very little, are you sure that it will be taken care of properly?

Why you should write a will

Even if you’re not legally married, you should consider taking this step to protect your partner. If you die ‘intestate’, without a signed will, they will get nothing. A ‘common law partner’ is not legally recognised.

You should make crystal clear who will take possession of which of your assets. It’s really not about you but about ensuring peace and an orderly distribution after your death.

Another reason to write a will is to make sure that your children are taken care of and assigned guardians. Those guardians should be the people that you trust. Another aspect is the protection of your children from a previous relationship who may be wrongly excluded from your estate.

Avoiding dispute

A will is a good way to avoid family disputes that can turn very ugly and which may drag on unnecessarily. There is no need for an acrimonious situation to arise as a result of your siblings fighting over your Wii console or that flat screen 3D TV taking pride of place in your living room.

Setting up a will does not have to be a daunting task. The earlier you do it and the less possession you have, the easier it will be. There are online resources that will help you write a will but you should definitely consider getting some further legal advice, preferably in person.