Why young people are being encourage to write a will

Dinner parties, love letters and secret recipes – perhaps not the first things that come to mind when you think about writing a will.

But for a growing number of young professionals, these personal touches are taking priority as they plan what will happen after they die.

“I’ve left little notes for my loved ones and I’ve gifted a great dress to my best friend,” says Londoner Kate Davis, 31, who began writing her will after reading Atul Gawande’s book, Being Mortal, about end of life care.

However it wasn’t until her father Mark died last year that Kate returned to the document to add more personal touches.

“Sudden death was definitely the trigger to think about those extra things,” she said.

“I wanted a chance to tell people how much I love them, even from beyond the grave.”