A will can be a very factual and colourless document which fails to reflect the late person’s personality or achievements. One remedy might be to weave a touch of colour into it, leaving your loved ones with a lasting memory of your time with them.
It’s not a legal document but a supplement to your will which sets down your thoughts, hopes and dreams.
Audrey Dishington, legal director and partner at Pagan Osborne in St Andrews, has seen the comfort these can bring to families at difficult times.
“Sitting back to think over the truly memorable times and what is important can actually be a lovely thing to do,” she says.
“Planning for a time when we are no longer around is not something most of us will relish but to know we are making a gesture which will bring some light during a dark time is comforting.”
Basically, an emotional will can contain anything you personally want your living relations to know.
This could be your favourite memories or perhaps talking about a place that was special to you all.
Alternatively, it could be a book, film or song to remind them of you.
The emotional will can contain your dreams and wishes for their futures or be an expression of just what your close ones meant to you. It could even be something you always wish you said, perhaps an apology to someone you never got the chance to reconnect with.
You can also detail how you would like certain areas managed. For instance, if you have children, you can outline how you would like them educated or if you want your estate to pay for treats such as their dream
holiday.
And for pet owners, it can be a way of saying who you would like to care for them – or even what brand of food you would like them to be fed.
“Who we are in life is our legacy and that deserves to be recorded – just as much as the facts and figures which make up our estate,” says Audrey.
“Those who love us will want to preserve our memories and wishes long after we are gone.”
www.willaid.org.uk
adishington@pagan.co.uk
Did you know…?
The first will, found on the wall of the Tomb of the Kings in Egypt, is from 2,600 BC.
Napoleon requested that his head be shaved and his hair distributed among friends.
A Portuguese aristocrat left his considerable fortune to 70 strangers chosen from the phone book.
The longest will was 1,066 pages and 95,940 words by Frederica Cook, who died in 1925 and is buried in Surrey.
The shortest recorded ones have been three words simply stating “all to” and the relative’s name.
Cancer Research UK receives the most charitable bequests.
Oprah Winfrey has set aside $30 million for her pet pooches.
Walmart founder Sam Walton left his children $100bn in his will.
Dying intestate, or without a will, can leave a whole host of costly legal, financial and emotional issues.
Prince, Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse died this way, resulting in complications.
