Making and Changing Wills

Abstract

Wills are important social, economic, and legal documents. Yet little is known about current will making practices and intentions. A comprehensive national database on the prevalence of will making in Australia was developed to identify who is or is not most likely to draw up a will and triggers for making and changing wills. A national survey of 2,405 adults aged above 18 years was administered by telephone in August and September 2012. Fifty-nine percent of the Australian adult population has a valid will, and the likelihood of will making increases with age and estate value. Efforts to get organized, especially in combination with life stage and asset changes trigger will making; procrastination, rather than a strong resistance, appears to explain not making a will. Understanding will making is timely in the context of predicted significant intergenerational transfers of wealth, changing demographics, and a renewed emphasis on retirement planning.

The Advanced C.A.R.E. Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Questionnaire for medical lecturers and specialists: A psychometric evaluation in a Malaysian sample

“…With regards to item C5, people may make provisions for their families or manage their assets and end of life care, without the presence of suicidal ideation. A study (Tilse et al, 2016 ) found that 59% of the general adult population had made wills. In a Malaysian population with its many cultural differences (Siau et al, 2017 ), certain cultural norms encourage bequeathing or the division of assets (Salisu, 2017 ).…”

Estate planning among older Americans: The moderating role of race and ethnicity

“…Roles of peer educators and racial/ethnic community organizations might be important pathways to better access estate planning information and execution. Peer educators might be especially important when language barriers exist (Brooker, 2007;Tilse et al, 2016).…”

“…This study investigates racial and ethnic differences in estate planning and whether race/ethnicity moderates the associations of bequest expectations to leave an inheritance and charitable giving with the presence of a valid will among older adults living in the United States using a nationally representative dataset. The relationship with a valid will was chosen because it is one component of estate planning that is an important social, economic, and legal document (Tilse et al, 2016).…”