A surprising number of Australians don’t have a Will, but it’s an incredibly important document. Once you turn 18, you need a Will – and it doesn’t matter how much savings you have in the bank or how much you own. And if you think it’ll be too complex or too expensive to make your Will, or lawyers charge too much to make it worthwhile, we’re here to tell you it’s actually quick, easy and free!
It’s easy, fast and free
As long as your estate isn’t too complex, you won’t need a lawyer to help you prepare your Will. In fact, you can create one online in about ten minutes in the comfort of your own home, completely free.
But why are we, a charity, talking about Wills? Because more of our supporters are realising that leaving a gift to Rafiki Mwema in their Will is a hugely impactful way to give. It’s a beautiful way to create a lasting legacy and show your loved ones what’s important to you.
So we’ve partnered with Gathered Here, an amazing company that provides end-of-life services. On their website, you can write your free, legally binding Will in less than ten minutes, with unlimited, free updates.
Visit Rafiki Mwema’s page at the Gathered Here website.
After you’ve provided for your loved ones in your Will, we’d love you to consider leaving even a small percentage of your estate to Rafiki Mwema.
Make your wishes clear
Regardless of how much you own, having an up-to-date Will is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. A Will legally protects your spouse, children, and assets. It also spells out how you’d like things handled, in a way that will be aligned with the values you have held throughout your lifetime.
We asked Lucy McMorron, Head of Partnerships at Gathered Here, why making a Will is so important. She says, “Making a Will is the best way of providing for those you leave behind. By making very precise decisions in relation to your property now, your Will alleviates worry for your family and makes life just a little easier at a very difficult time.”
What happens when you don’t have a Will? The legal term is “intestate”. Without a Will, your property is distributed according to a formula – which might not align with your intentions. For example, your children, spouse or partner might not receive the protection you want for them. Plus, the process of finalising your estate becomes complicated, costly and time consuming for the people left behind.
Ask yourself the right questions
Creating a Will requires us to answer some difficult, but extremely important questions. Who do you want to have guardianship over your children and pets? How should your assets and estate should be distributed? Who do you want to be responsible for administering your estate? Are there any charities or causes you would like to include in your legacy?
By having a Will, you can ensure the answers to these questions will be as you’d wished. It also gives a thoughtful and easy way to leave a lasting legacy that reflects your values.
Why leaving a gift in your will is important
In our chat with her, Lucy McMorron explained why it’s so important to include a gift in your Will. “Gifts in Wills (or bequests), are the extraordinarily generous gifts left to not-for-profits in people’s Wills. A large number of NFPs are reliant on these gifts to enable them to do their work and safeguard their mission for generations to come. Bequests will continue to be an extremely important income stream for NFPs for at least the next 20 years as other funding sources tighten and the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history takes place with an estimated $3.5 trillion being transferred in Australia from the Baby Boomer generation.”
We decided to partner with Gathered Here because we share their values and love their approach to making end-of-life services approachable and accessible. They empower people with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate everything relating to death with confidence and certainty.
Not everyone feels comfortable thinking about the end of life, but for the sake of everyone you love, it’s so important to prepare a Will. And if you’d like to leave a gift to Rafiki Mwema, please let us know so that we can thank you.
Learn more about giving gifts and bequests to Rafiki Mwema. Visit our page at Gathered Here to explore the short online form you can use to make your Will.
