Keep it simple, keep it short and keep to the point

Long, long Wills stating unnecessary, redundant, repetitive statements are not a good idea.

Long Wills making unnecessary statements only end up costing the estate more eventually. A Probate lawyer is entitled to charge a perusal fee for reading the Will. The longer the Will the more perusal fees are chargeable.

You may have seen Will templates that provide clauses for the adoption of your pet, for declaring what sort of burial you should have plus a long list of ‘options’. This is NOT the best thing that you can do. A Will is about stating what is necessary to be in your Will and not about how just glitz you can put in it.

Stick to what the Will must say – who your beneficiaries are, what do you wish to give to each beneficiary, who you want as your executor/s and who you want as your guardian.

The unnecessary stuff you can write in an accompanying letter, essay, poem (or even a song if you must) but it should not be part of a Trust and Will.

People who insist of having long Wills stipulating everything (eg the songs to be sung at their funeral service) merely exhibit the extent they wish to continue controlling things after they are gone.
Do not try to ‘control from the grave’. There needs to be an end.

Please note: Nothing in this article should be seen as providing legal advice. Any opinions expressed in this article are general only and not intended as criticisms of any person, business or website or how someone may lead their lives or may be involved in the making of someone else’s Will. Please consider taking appropriate legal advice if needed. If you have any questions you may send them to mail@ezwills.com.sg