TO WILL OR NOT TO WILL…..Is that the question?

WILL OR NOT TO WILL, Is that the question?

Remember following the drama that happens after the demise of that prominent person? How the kids and spouses engaged in fierce court battles over who gets a fair share of the deceased’s estate? Or how a ‘hidden’ child springs up demanding a piece of the estate? Remember chuckling as you followed the story and thinking, ’’Oh rich people’s problems?”

The thing is, such scenarios are not a preserve of the rich only, it could happen to anyone. And you are not spared either. Hence the crucial need to prepare a will.

 “But I do not have much wealth for people to fight over when I’m gone” or “I’m too young to worry about a will” is most likely your thought sequence right now.

But allow me to explore the thought, shall we?

I’ll take you to your earthly possessions. Your Chama or listed company shares, your prized collection of watches or books by your favourite author, your handbags or shoes or rings or watches collection, your piece of land-the one are undecided on what to do with, your pricey gadgets-recall how you were keen on getting one with just the right specifications? Aren’t these things of value? Maybe you have big things like a piece of land, your vehicle, your house, your investments and insurance policies. Do these things sound like wealth you own? No? Yes?

On the face of it, the idea of wealth sounds like something to be associated with the affluent, the reality is, we all have things we treasure. We are all wealthy and it’s always best and never too late to plan how our wealth will be distributed in the unfortunate event of our death – I know this is can be an uncomfortable taboo topic. But again, death is inevitable for all of us and we can make things easier if we plan for what should happen to us and our belongings after we transition. By writing a will, we cut out any possibility of family squabbles.

To define what a will is, in simple terms; a will is a written or spoken declaration of how a person’s wealth will be distributed to his dependents and loved ones upon his demise. A Will can also contain instructions on how and where to lay the deceased to rest. This is a document that gives one a great deal of peace of mind especially with the knowledge that it’s your dependents who will benefit from your estate.

Writing a will is not a complicated process. In Kenya, it is a requirement to have your will witnessed by two people. So as a layman, choose two trusted people to visit a lawyer with. The lawyer will help you write the document which must include The Testator who is you, the gift which is the items owned by you to be assigned to beneficiaries of your choice, The executor, who is the person who will divide your property to the beneficiaries, The execution which is your signature or thumbprint and Attestation which is the witnesses signatures.

This document is then sealed and kept till when it’s necessary to use it. Good news is you are allowed to change your will as many times as you can. You only need to burn the old will.

As a caregiver, writing a will may be the tool that you need to bring a sense of order into your life, an item in your self-care plan. The experience of caregiving has a way of getting us to think of our own mortality and/or the fickleness of our existence. Instead of worrying about the unknown that could hit after your own demise, it is worth considering engaging in the exercise of writing a will. This will allow you to get back to being present in the role you play of a caregiver knowing your matters are handled.

Should you need further personal consultation on writing a will, contact us on our email, enquiries@suruvihomecare.com or phone call 0719571770 and we will introduce you to our legal team for a more detailed discussion.

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