How to Convince your Partner to make their Will

You’re married, have a house, you’re working hard, raising kids, and maybe even have a pet too – but you don’t have a Will in place. And your partner doesn’t have a Will. This scenario is very much the norm.

You may even feel like you can’t make your Will until your partner agrees to do theirs too because many of the decisions you need to make require both of your input.

However, convincing your partner to make their Will can be challenging.

Since Willed has helped over 100,000+ Australians to start their Wills, we have encountered most of the objections you can imagine and have some helpful insights on how to convince a partner to make their Will.

Simply get started with your Will

Often we find that if one person in a couple goes ahead and gets started (more likely the female in the equation) it’ll spur on the male partner to come to the party. 

So why not start your Will now and show it to your partner. You can show your partner the progress you’ve made in completing your Will on the Willed app before checking out and downloading it. It might be all the nudge they need.

We're too young to worry about our Wills.

Too young is sliding scale. People at all ages think they are too young.

Unfortunately, younger age doesn't guarantee safety. Unexpected events can happen at any time to anyone, and having a Will in place means your family will know your wishes.

Try proposing an alternative "what if" scenario where you both suddenly win the lottery. Would they want the government deciding how to distribute their newfound wealth?

It's too expensive.

Not with Willed. You can get a legally valid Will customised to your personal circumstances for only $159 per person or $238 for Couple Wills (save 50% on your partner’s Will). 

The traditional approach of going to your local lawyer will probably be expensive. Commonly it can cost from $600 to multiple $1,000’s.

Rather than being purely logical, try a lighthearted approach where you challenge your partner – whoever saves the cost of the will first gets to choose the next night out for dinner.

If this truly is the true objection then perhaps take an asymmetrical approach: Offer to give up a luxury item or habit (e.g., daily coffee runs) for a month to cover the cost of both wills.

We don't own enough to need a will.

This is an objection we hear a lot on social media. The thinking is that since you don’t own lots – or just feel like you don’t own much – therefore it’s not worth doing. 

You can highlight that Wills aren't just about money and are not just for “rich people” – they also cover guardianship for children, who will look after pets, who gets shares and sentimental family possessions.

One good way to come at this is to take an asymmetrical approach. Ask your partner to imagine if their prized possessions went to someone they disliked because there was no will in place.

It's too morbid or confronting to think about it

If your partner struggles to think about making a Will because of how confronting it is to think about the end of their life then this one's for you.

Start by talking about this logically. You can reframe making a Will as a positive act of love and protection for your family rather than dwelling on death.

We'll do it later.

As the old saying goes, a goal without a deadline is just a dream. Set a specific date to make your Will and treat it like any other important appointment or deadline.

Or if you think they need to be given an extra nudge then agree with each other that you’ll donate 1% of your estate to a cause your partner dislikes if you don't complete the wills by a certain date!

Wrap up

If none of these approaches work then you probably need to get help from someone your partner respects. They might not listen to you but they might listen to someone such as a friend, or a trusted financial advisor or accountant.

Ultimately, creating a Will is an essential step in protecting your family's future. By addressing common objections and finding creative ways to overcome them, you can work together with your partner to ensure your loved ones are cared for, no matter what life brings.

Ready to make your Will? Get started now. The Willed online will-platform offers Australians an affordable, easy-to-use way to make a legal Will at the fraction of the cost of a typical lawyer.

Disclaimer: The content of this blog is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. This blog should not be relied upon as legal, financial, accounting or tax advice.