What our community says: Kerry-Ann updated her will to help protect her blended family
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When Kerry-Ann updated her will recently, she wanted to help make things clear and easier down the track for her now adult children and new husband.
Living in a blended family, Kerry-Ann says minimising the risk of any potential future issues between the couple’s four children was the most important thing.
“I wanted to be proactive and take care of my family.”
A will is a legal document that sets out your wishes for your assets when you die - including property and your KiwiSaver account. It can also cover your wishes for any special items, appoints a testamentary guardian for any young children, outlines what you’d like to happen to any pets, and can include your funeral arrangements and burial wishes.
Having a will is one of the most important things you can do for you and your whānau, and Public Trust’s latest research show 98 percent of Kiwi want to leave a legacy.
Kerry-Ann, now based in Timaru, agreed that it was important to get advice before writing your will if you were unsure of anything, or had a blended family.
As for starting the discussions in her family about wills, death and the future, Kerry-Ann says, “It’s a bit of an unnerving conversation.”
Her tips to others considering getting a will? “Just get started online. It will help you get thinking about it, and think about what’s important to you. Even reading about it is very helpful.”
