Ask anyone whether writing a will is important and they’ll almost certainly say yes. Ask them if they’ve actually done it, and you’ll get a sheepish look and a long list of reasons why not.
As the owner of Beaulieu Wills and Estate Planning, I’ve been helping people write wills for years, and I’ve heard every variation of “I’ll do it soon.” Some people think they’re too young. Others insist they have nothing to leave. Many promise themselves they’ll get around to it after the next holiday, the next birthday, or when work calms down.
But here’s what very few people say out loud, even though it’s the real reason for almost everyone:
We avoid writing wills because we don’t want to think about death.
It’s uncomfortable. It feels morbid. It forces us to confront something we’d rather ignore. So we push it aside, telling ourselves we have plenty of time to deal with it later.
The problem is that life doesn’t ask permission before disrupting our plans. And when someone dies without a will, the people left behind don’t just lose someone they love – they’re also left navigating a legal maze without a map.
The Myths That Keep Us Stuck
Let me address the most common concerns I hear, because I suspect at least one of them is keeping you from making that phone call:
“It’s going to cost a fortune.”
A professionally drafted will typically costs about the same as a nice meal out or a spa day – and that often includes mirror wills for couples. The difference? That spa lasts an afternoon. A properly drafted will protects everyone you love, potentially for generations.
Compare that to what families spend sorting out estates when there’s no will – or worse, when there’s a badly drafted one that creates disputes. We’re talking thousands in legal fees, months of delays, and relationships damaged beyond repair.
“It’s too complicated. I won’t understand what I’m doing.”
This is exactly why you work with someone who does this every day. You don’t need to understand legal terminology or inheritance tax thresholds. That’s my job.
What you need to do is spend about an hour with me, talking in plain English about your family, your assets, and what matters to you. I’ll ask the right questions, explain your options, and send you a draft within 24–48 hours. Then we refine it until it’s exactly right.
“I’m not planning on dying.”
I appreciate the optimism, I really do. But this might be the one area where planning for the unlikely makes the most sense.
A will doesn’t invite misfortune – it simply protects your family if misfortune arrives anyway. And while none of us plan to die, very few people plan to die in their thirties, or forties, or fifties. Yet it happens every day.
What a Will Actually Is
Here’s how I’ve come to think about it after years of seeing what happens to families both with and without wills:
A will isn’t about death. It’s about making life easier for the people you care about most.
It’s about your partner not having to guess what you wanted while drowning in grief. It’s about your children receiving what you intended, rather than what the law decides. It’s about preventing your siblings from arguing over Mum’s jewellery because nobody’s quite sure what she wanted.
It’s about leaving clarity instead of confusion. Certainty instead of conflict.
The Best Time Is Now
If you’ve been putting this off – whether for months or years – I understand why. But I also want you to know that the process is genuinely simpler, quicker, and far less emotionally draining than you’re imagining.
The hardest part is making the decision to start. After that, I’ll guide you through everything else.
For confidential advice on writing your will:
01277 562 567 | ian.nicholson@bwep.uk | www.bwep.uk
Don’t wait, protect your Estate!