I Wrote My Will at 27 - Here Are the Reasons

27-year-old Erin Atkinson completed the process of writing a will, which is not a common situation for most young people. She shares the reasons for making this decision through her experiences. Erin, who conducts psychological research at a university in London, found an opportunity to give her life a new direction after moving from Bristol to the capital. Initially, Erin stated that writing a will felt strange for her, but despite being a concept associated with the elderly, she expresses that taking this step empowered her. Erin began to think about where to leave her assets and money. She left her car, worth £7,000, to her brother and also wanted to return the gold necklace she received from her partner. Additionally, she included her desire to donate to an endometriosis charity, which she finds very valuable, in her will. Erin says, "Writing down these kinds of things made me feel strong." It is known that young people do not take the issue of writing a will seriously. According to the 2025 National Will Report, only one-fifth of young people aged 18-24 have a will. This rate rises to 33% for the 22-34 age group. Sophia Maslin, the founder of the app Morby, states that young people often overlook the necessity of writing a will. Maslin says, "People think they don't have enough assets. However, many things like savings, investments, and social media accounts can be included in a will." Erin shares that the idea of writing a will first came to her attention when a friend bought a house, and then she saw posts about this topic on social media. This process prompted her to think, considering the will issues her family faced in the past. She emphasizes that she understood the benefit of a will in alleviating the burden she would leave to her loved ones. Eleanor Hodgson from Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors emphasizes that writing a will is not only about material possessions, but also important in terms of banking transactions and managing debts. She expresses that young people tend to postpone writing a will but should not forget that unexpected events can occur at any stage of life. Erin states that while writing her will, she also thought about important details of her life, and therefore this process was not a negative experience for her. Although writing a will can be daunting, there are organizations that offer free or low-cost services. For example, every November, Will Aid works with volunteer lawyers and does not charge a fee for writing a basic will. Planning the process of writing a will can be an important step for your loved ones.

Source: BBC Business