How writing a will could save heartache
(NC) - Eva Gabrielsson was the long-term partner of the hugely successful Swedish writer Stieg Larsson, author of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Eva and Stieg were together 30 years. But when Larsson died, Eva inherited nothing.
Why? Because Stieg Larsson died intestate—he died without a will.
It is estimated that Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy books have sold over 70 million copies worldwide, generating many millions of dollars of income. But because Eva and Stieg never married, Eva received nothing from his estate, which went to Stieg’s father and brother.
This is just one example of the kind of complication that can arise when you die without writing a will.
Although your estate might not be the same size as Larsson’s fortune, not writing a will could leave a legacy of trouble for your loved ones.
There are many good reasons to make writing a will a priority:
- knowing that loved ones are taken care of according to your wishes;
- you can make gifts of certain items (a painting perhaps, or a piece of jewelry) to specific family members who would treasure them most; and
- allows you to outline any preferences you might have for your own funeral.
Wills can ensure that a portion of your estate goes to the charities you care most about like an animal shelter, local hospital or a human rights charity.
If writing a will is still on a to-do list, there’s no better time to act than now for the simple reason that writing a will can bring real peace of mind.
www.Newscanada.com
