Absence of a will has often been the root of many family fights, both on-screen and off it. From Bollywood dramas where brothers turn against each other to real-life stories of families dragged into courtrooms, most of these disputes begin with one missing document, a will.<\/p>\n
Property division or transfer of wealth can often lead to tension and disputes among family members if not clearly planned.<\/p>\n
It may seem like a small piece of paper, but it carries the power to keep families together even after someone is gone. A will brings clarity, peace, and fairness in a time often filled with confusion and emotion.<\/p>\n
Sreepriya N S, CEO, Entrust Family Office, said that a will is a simple but powerful legal document that defines how a person\u2019s assets will be distributed after their death.<\/p>\n
\u201cA will isn\u2019t just for the wealthy \u2014 it\u2019s a tool for clarity and control. It ensures that your assets, however modest, are distributed as per your wishes. Without a will, inheritance is governed by personal succession laws, which may not align with what you intended. A will also helps avoid confusion, delays, and disputes among family members,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n
CA (Dr.) Suresh Surana also highlights the importance of having a will to prevent conflict. \u201cA will is required to avoid any family dispute in future after the demise of the testator. However, in case of no property or wealth with the testator, a will may not be required,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
COMMON MISTAKES IN MAKING A WILL<\/p>\n
Experts say that while drafting a will, many people make errors that can later cause confusion or even make the will invalid. Some common mistakes include not signing the will properly, failing to have it witnessed, or forgetting to update it after life changes such as marriage, childbirth, or buying new property.<\/p>\n
Dr Surana adds, \u201cImproper execution, missing out some properties, ambiguous language, disclosure to the family member and failing to keep the document updated are the most common mistakes.\u201d He also advises that a will should be drafted after consulting legal and tax experts to ensure compliance with relevant laws.<\/p>\n
HOW A WILL PREVENTS FAMILY DISPUTES<\/p>\n
When written clearly, a will can prevent emotional and legal battles.<\/p>\n
\u201cA clear, valid will leaves little room for doubt or conflict. It explicitly states who gets what, which minimises emotional and legal disputes among heirs. When intentions are documented, it prevents competing claims and reduces the chances of court battles,\u201d said Sreepriya.<\/p>\n
After a person\u2019s death, family members must present the will before a court to obtain legal authority to act upon it. This ensures that the document is genuine and that assets are distributed as per the testator\u2019s wishes.<\/p>\n
TYPES OF WILLS IN INDIA<\/p>\n
Under the Indian Succession Act, 1925, there are two main types of wills \u2014 privileged and unprivileged.<\/p>\n
A Privileged Will applies to soldiers, airmen, or mariners in active service. These can be oral or informal, as such individuals often work in risky conditions.<\/p>\n
An Unprivileged Will is for everyone else. It must be written, signed by the testator, and attested by at least two witnesses.<\/p>\n
There are also other informal forms like holograph wills (entirely handwritten), registered wills (filed with the sub-registrar for authenticity), and joint or mutual wills (made by spouses or co-owners). However, for most people, a simple unprivileged registered will is sufficient and easy to execute.<\/p>\n
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A VALID WILL<\/p>\n
Dr Surana says that for a will to be legally valid, the testator must be at least 18 years old, of sound mind, and must provide clear instructions about asset distribution. \u201cThe will should be signed and dated by the testator and witnessed by at least two witnesses, preferably one being the family doctor,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n
Sreepriya adds that obtaining a doctor\u2019s certificate confirming mental fitness at the time of signing adds credibility. She also recommends dating every page, avoiding blank spaces or overwriting, and keeping the original copy safe.<\/p>\n
While a person can write a will themselves, legal experts advise seeking professional assistance. \u201cLawyers ensure the will is clear, complies with legal formalities, and reflects your intent without loopholes. Professional drafting also helps in complex situations such as joint families, blended families, or business ownership,\u201d says Sreepriya.<\/p>\n
Both experts agree that a will is not just a legal necessity but also a responsible act towards one\u2019s family. It brings peace of mind, prevents disputes, and ensures that one\u2019s final wishes are respected without confusion or conflict.<\/p>\n
– Ends<\/p>\n
Published On: <\/p>\n
Oct 13, 2025<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Absence of a will has often been the root of many family fights, both on-screen and off it.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":74953,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[58710,138,10638,58708,58705,246,58701,58703,8760,58709,58712,111,139,69,244,245,58707,58704,58711,58713,58706,58700,1533,58702,58714,3603],"class_list":{"0":"post-74952","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-personal-finance","8":"tag-asset-transfer","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-estate-planning","11":"tag-executor","12":"tag-family-dispute","13":"tag-finance","14":"tag-how-to-make-will","15":"tag-indian-succession-laws","16":"tag-inheritance","17":"tag-legal-heir","18":"tag-legal-validity","19":"tag-new-zealand","20":"tag-newzealand","21":"tag-nz","22":"tag-personal-finance","23":"tag-personalfinance","24":"tag-privileged-will","25":"tag-property-division","26":"tag-registered-will","27":"tag-testator","28":"tag-unprivileged-will","29":"tag-when-should-you-make-will","30":"tag-will","31":"tag-will-making","32":"tag-will-registration","33":"tag-witness"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74952"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74952\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}