If you’re like us and you’re still in the midst of organising your life for 2025 and would like to knock another thing off your to-do list (an important one at that) then we’re here to help with the offer of a FREE will-writing service from our partner, Gathered Here.
Life can feel so overwhelming and busy at times that creating a will might be the last thing on your mind and might even be uncomfortable to think about. But, creating a will can be quite a simple exercise and you might even wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. It’s also kinder to have all of your affairs in order instead of leaving behind financial and legal loose ends at an already difficult time for loved ones.
Why will writing a will simplify your life?
Do you have particular ideas about what will happen to your money, possessions and property after you’re gone? A will is a document that explains your direct wishes after you die. Wills also designate guardianship of children and pets if you have any.
Or, are you concerned about leaving behind headaches as well as heartache for loved ones? Despite best intentions, many simply never get around to writing a will – in fact at least one in two Australians don’t have a will in place.
But things are changing, and wills are becoming more normalised and accessible to everyone over the age of 18. This is in part due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Wills can now be completed without even leaving home – for free. More and more people realise that creating a will is not just for the affluent or older generations.
Personal motivations behind will writing
- A change in perspective, due to a major life event
- A growth in taking personal responsibility for our lives
- To reduce stress for loved ones during an already difficult time
- Increase in financial literacy
- The death of a loved one
- Wanting to have a say in personal affairs such as funerals, distribution of sentimental items, digital assets and pets
- The ease of writing an online will, prepared in the comfort of our own home – easily and free!
- Leaving special provisions in a will.
Things to consider after you have gone
- What will happen to your online assets – photos, videos, journals, social media and email accounts, websites, cryptocurrencies, digital art and collectables?
- Who would you like to entrust guardianship of your children to?
- Who will take on the responsibility of a beloved pet?
- What kind of burial will take place for you?
So now that you know why it is important to have a will in place, we would like to introduce you to the idea of legacy giving.
Legacy Giving
After providing for loved ones, many individuals choose to allocate portions of their estate to charitable causes – the impact of which is huge – for the charity, those it benefits and society as a whole.
- Legacy giving is a powerful way to make a lasting impact to a cause you care deeply about
- Legacy giving is about changing lives in the future with no cost to you in this lifetime
- Leaving a charitable gift in your will can create lasting solutions to many of society’s issues for generations to come
- Choosing to leave a gift in your will to a charity such as Burdekin, can support our work long after you are gone. It is one of the most meaningful decisions you can make and is a true endorsement of your compassion and kind-heartedness.
- For Burdekin, gifts in wills can have a huge impact on our capacity to plan for the future, it can give us the confidence to make long-term plans and can buffer us through uncertain times.
According to the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, Australia is ranked as the fourth most generous country among 119 countries, with three in five Australians making a financial donation to charity. Australians are generous in their lifetime, but many of us will be in a position to give even more in our will than we ever could while we are alive – that is something really worth considering. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/philanthropy-and-charitable-giving
We also know that due to the cost of living, charity spending is an expense that people sometimes just can’t afford – we know this through increased demand for our services and reduced donations. If you would like a way to support Burdekin without incurring any financial cost – pledging a gift in your will is one way you can continue your support – because it won’t cost a cent in this lifetime – not even in writing the will!
According to NAB news, $150 billion will be gifted through inheritances this year and $1.3 billion of this will be given to charity – we want to make that more. Even a small percentage, like 1%, can help us, while ensuring your family are still provided for. https://news.nab.com.au/news/australias-150-billion-bequest-decision/
Burdekin partnering with Gathered Here
We are partnering with Gathered Here to offer individuals a FREE will. We must stress at this point that you do not have to leave a gift in your will to be entitled to this free offer, but we hope that you do. Wills made online are more likely to include a charitable gift.
If more people write a will, then more people might leave a small charitable gift in their will, which can have a remarkable impact on tackling disadvantage and supporting communities into the future.
Write your free will today. For more information please see here.
