The Will to write a W I L L.

The will to write

A

W I L L.


Do you have the will or desire to write A WILL ? May be you have. May be you don’t. It is always desirable to write your Will and Last Testament (as a Will is often called). You may not necessarily lay down the methodology to distribute your Earthly belongings to your descendants or relatives. Yet there are so many things that need your concurrence on whats to be done on several matters once you are Gone for Ever.You can give concurrence only when you are alive and in sound mind.

Many people feel they are not that Rich to lay down the Inheritance options. Fine, you may have very few worldly belongings or none at all to bequeath. But always remember your dead body has to be disposed off and you may like its disposal in a certain manner. That you can spell out. Otherwise ever so many unsolicited suggestions will come forth from your kith and kin to confuse your sons while they have to sorrowfully complete the Last Rites.

One great uncle will say, in orthodox Brahamin families, that you must cremate only in the traditional wood pyre and not in an Electric Crematorium. Otherwise the Dead Soul shall not get Saswatha Swarga Loka.

An acknowledged authority in after Life Services, the Grand Old Aunty, your father’s sister will say, that you must give Dasa Daanaas,(charities), like Bhoo Daana,( donating a piece of Land) Go-Daana ( donating a Cow) and Swarna Daana(donating a Gold Coin) to relieve the Departed Soul from Earthly Bondages. And so it goes.

Now an enlightened person may realise that such myths are only to harass the survivors and rob them of as much cash as possible, in the name of Faith and Beliefs.



In which case the wise person can lay down what all he wishes to be done, after his Death. A simple cremation in a manner in which the children can best complete the solemn ceremony and doing away with these charities which the family cannot afford.

In the absence of a clear cut mandate from the departed soul, the progeny, in 9 cases out of 10, land up in Debts for the Funeral Expenses, of their beloved one. All in the name of baseless, illogical and irrational superstitions.

That’s where one can put one’s foot down and say this is the way my funeral should be. If my Soul were to Rest in Peace. While you are still alive you can do it by writing a Will. Not otherwise. It will be too late, then !!





Even the few properties you have can be distributed in the way you want. If you die intestate (that is without writing a Will), your Lawyer will tell you the Law of the Land will take its own course as per the inheritance Laws of you Religion.

So, not to worry. Your properties will go to your Progeny as per Law. If you do not have any marked choices or priorities.

There was once, a dying man, in an ICU, trying to figure out, with his wife, who was waiting at his bedside, how best to fairly and evenly distribute his bungalows in different Hill Stations. He said he would bequeath his Kodaikanal bungalow to his youngest daughter. His wife promptly vetoed the idea saying that the youngest daughter has already her own bungalow in Kodaikanal.

The man went on suggesting one alternate after another and the wife kept pace with him vetoing his wishes. Finally, totally exasperated, he yelled, in sheer disgust, “I am the one dying and trying to make a Will, not Y O U, silly woman”!







One most important task, one should never fail you perform is to provide for the safe and comfortable income for the Spouse so that he or she is always independent financially. The spouse should never land up in a situation where he or she has to stretch her / his hand out for small petty needs. Not only petty needs, but some reasonable cash flow should always be available for giving small gifts to grand children or young and / or, newly married couples who come to seek blessings.
That should be your spouse’s prerogative to give a small gift without asking anyone, however close that anyone may be.

This is possible if you make a WILL and lay down legally binding arrangements for the continuous cash flow month after month till the death of the spouse.

Making a Will is not a complicated or difficult job. Ask any Lawyer friend, and he would gladly help you. A Will need not be registered. It is sufficient if two witnesses sign on it when you have signed. Such an executed Will must be kept with a trusted close friend or relative , preferably much younger than you. The idea is, he must survive you. Not the other way !

One original can also be kept in your Bank Locker or some other equally safe place along with other financial and property documents.

Your Will can be done as you wished it, if you make a Will. It’s good to have one made. Attempt it once. You will enjoy going about the whole task. Really. No jokes.

Parsa V R Rao