IF YOU haven’t made a will yet, now may be the opportunity you have been waiting for.
The NSW Trustee and Guardians Port Macquarie branch is taking bookings for Make Your Will Day on Saturday 26 October.
“It is the perfect opportunity for busy working people to plan for the future, and ensure they have an up-to-date will which includes current details of nominated beneficiaries,” branch manager Jenni Edwards said.
“For parents with children under 18 years of age, it is important they have guardianship of their children in place. You can also find out more about other important legal life planning documents like a power of attorney and enduring guardianship.”
Ms Edwards said she had been pleased to see the number of adults in NSW with a will increasing in recent years.
“But there are still around 40 percent of us without a will, and still 56 percent of parents of younger children do not have a will and are unlikely to have made guardianship provision for their kids,” she said.
“Our staff will be available for will-making on Saturday, 26 October, to give busy people the chance to tick this important task off their to-do list – but you will need to make an appointment.”
There is no charge to make or update your will with NSW Trustee and Guardian appointed as executor. Charges apply on deceased estate administration only.
Make Your Will Day is also an opportunity to find out about other important pre-planning documents such as a power of attorney which appoints someone to look after your legal and financial and enduring guardianship for lifestyle and health decisions if you are no longer able to do so.
According to Ms Edwards, these documents really help people get their affairs in order and take control of their future needs.
“We see it all the time. People are reluctant to make their will because they fear thinking about the inevitable, but once they have made the decisions and completed the documents, there is often a great piece of mind that comes with it,” she said.
She cautioned you need to make these decisions and make sure you have the documents in place while you have capacity to do so.
“With the incidence of dementia and other illness on the rise, it is an unfortunate fact of life that none of us know if or when things can change and once they do, these decisions can be taken out of your hands if you haven’t planned ahead,” she said.
People can find more information on the www.makeyourwill.com.au website.
Bookings for the Make Your Will Day are essential to ensure you have the information required to make your will at an assigned time on the day.
To book an appointment call 6584 0741.
