Make a resolution that will make a difference

With 65%* of New Zealanders confirming they had not got around to writing their Will in 2010 Public Trust is encouraging people to make a resolution this New Year to get the necessary plans in place.

“Given that a Will is one of the most important legal documents you can have in place to look after the things that are important to you, this is a staggering statistic which clearly demonstrates that New Zealanders are not aware of the implications of not having a Will,” said Grant Brenton, Public Trust’s General Manager Marketing.

A Will that doesn’t reflect a person’s current circumstances can mean that their family or assets may not be cared for in the way they would like them to be, and can leave family members facing lengthy and expensive court costs and stress.

“That is why Public Trust is encouraging New Zealanders to make a New Year resolution to get the process started at a time of year when they may have more time available to think about the steps they wish to put in place to look after their family and assets,” he said.

When it comes to resolutions people often look at changes they can make to their personal life and wellness. But what about the wellness of your personal legal and financial documents? “One of the easiest resolutions to keep this year to improve the wellness of these documents is to write or update your Will,” said Mr Brenton.

Some of the questions you may wish to think about to get started include:

• Who do you need to provide for? Do you have children, a partner, extended family or friends you wish to care for?
• Do you have any specific ways that you would like these people to be cared for?
• Who do you want to enjoy your assets or precious things after you? Is there someone special you want to have your mother’s necklace or your extensive record collection?
• Has anything changed in your life in the last year that may impact on your current Will? Have you married, had a child or bought a house?

“Getting started is easy, and if you have given some thought to these questions you will already have a good idea about what you may want to include in your Will. You can get started straight away by visiting our website or by calling our contact centre team who will be able to help put you in contact with the most relevant person in your local area. An appointment with one of our advisers will take just a couple of hours to give you the peace of mind of knowing that you’ve got the future sorted for the people and things you care about most.” Mr Brenton concluded.

For more information, visit www.publictrust.co.nz or call 0800 371 471.

ENDS

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