Dear LPG,

I noted your post about remembering the importance of making a will (►►►) and feel that I have a little to add to that message. 

Apparently, the age at which people get married these days is on the rise and there are more and more people either leaving it until they retire or at least doing it for the second or third time at that stage in their lives.   A friend of mine falls into this category and became a widow, quite suddenly, earlier this year.  They had married just over six years ago but the marriage only survived for about four years before they went their separate ways although, in spite of this, they remained good friends and never actually got around to getting a divorce. 

It was not until after the sudden departure that the reality of the situation kicked in.  As is often the case my friend and the children from her husband’s earlier marriage were not in absolute agreement about the details of his finances.

He had left a will which, it was thought, would make things really clear but the problem was that he made it before he got married again and had never got around to updating it in any way.  

The reality is that in many cases a will which was made by anyone before such a change of circumstances is likely to be null and void. A review of such documents will be the last thing on the list of priorities during the honeymoon period and as the happiness and contentment that surrounds the first flush of married bliss that follows.  As a surviving spouse, she has inherited everything and there are always debts to be considered as well as assets. 

So I would like to remind everyone (regardless of age) to make a will if it has not been done up to that point, and for those who have already made a will and who have also married since, to take a good look at their will if they want to minimise the turbulence that they leave behind them.

CS,  Greenwich

CS makes a very valid point and marriage is not the only thing to be taken into consideration when thinking about the life-changing circumstances.  LPG has found some online advice that recommends everyone to review their will at least every 5 years and has included some related information ….

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