Kāpiti lawyer Jane Stevenson says she remains surprised that there are so many New Zealanders who do not have a Will.
“It really is a relatively simple and inexpensive process and can save families a huge amount of stress,” says Ms Stevenson, a partner at Kāpiti Law.
A survey undertaken by the Public Trust in 2012 showed over half of adult New Zealanders didn’t have a Will. For those in the 25-39 age category 66 percent didn’t have a will.
Ms Stevenson says there hasn’t been a nationwide media push since that time so those figures would probably still apply.
She says having a Will is not just about assets.
“It covers a wide range of issues such as whether a person wants to be buried or cremated and who very personal assets should go to.
“The Will in many cases is also about circumstances more than assets particularly in a blended family structure which can be quite complex. It is about the structure of your family unit and how you own the assets across that unit,” says Ms Stevenson.
In many cases there is a set fee for a Will at $300 for an individual or $450 for a couple.
Ms Stevenson says a Will is a very important document and people need to have them.
More on Wills: https://www.kapitilaw.co.nz/wills-lawyer-kapiti
