Let's talk about DEATH, baby!
So let’s get the awkward bit out of the way first, this blog is going to be about death. No-one likes to talk about death but sadly, the facts of life are that we are all going to experience our loved ones dying and we are all going to die ourselves one day. Death can be a taboo subject to talk about but we really should talk about it more – it is the one thing that every human being is going to experience!
One of the biggest questions we often think about in relation to our inevitable end to life on this earth is: how do I want to be remembered? Do I want a grave for my family to visit? Do I want my name on a bench? Do I want to be cremated and have my ashes scattered in a place special to me?
All of these things seem weird to think about, especially, if like me, you are in your 20s! However, making a will (no matter your age) is so important to make life easier for your loved ones when it is your time to go. The intricate maze of will making can seem daunting but here https://beyond.life/make-will-online/ is a free, easy to use, online service! Once written your will is able to be updated any time as your life circumstances change (for example, if you have children).
Before you start making your will you need to decide two important things:
Who will be the executor of your will? This is the person who will find your will after your death (so you need to tell them where it is!) and will make sure all your wishes are taken care of. You should choose someone that you trust… and if possible, someone you know won’t be daunted at speaking with solicitors and organising all your possessions!
If you have children, who will be the guardian of them? If you and your partner die before your child is 18, you have to name someone who will be the legal guardian of your children.
With making these decisions – make sure you ask the people involved!! It might be a bit of a shock if you haven’t!
When making a will, the first and most important thing to think about are your family and friends. Writing out any wishes about your funeral and resting place will make the difficult time of grief much easier for your family. Think about where you think they would like to go to remember you.
You also need to think about who will receive your estate. Now estate sounds like a very grand word but I am assuming most of you reading this probably don’t own multiple properties across the world! Estate simply means – “everything you own” – even if it is just a savings account, a Pokemon card collection and all the things in your house! So you need to decide who you want these things to go to.
After making sure your family and friends have been left what they need, the last thing to consider is – do you want to leave part of your estate to charity? This is called ‘Legacy Giving’. Leaving something to charity means your legacy can live on in more ways than how your family and friends may choose to remember you. Your legacy will not only be the memories made with your friends and family but also the difference you have made to the lives of the beneficiaries of the charity you choose to support.
Recent legacy donations have made a huge difference to the lives of orphans and vulnerable mums in Russia. They have enabled Love Russia to:
Support a new safe house for orphans leaving their orphanage, meaning they don’t become homeless.
Extend our crisis centre for vulnerable mums, meaning we can help many more families in desperate need.
These projects will help to turn the lives around of young people in desperate situations and will benefit 100s of orphans and young mums over the years to come.
Imagine that being part of your legacy! That you have not only made happy memories with your loved ones… but you are helping those in desperate need even after you are gone.
To find out more about how leaving a legacy can help Love Russia – or how to update your will if you already have one, then visit http://www.loverussia.org/legacy-giving