Mrs Jeffries
Customer, Mrs Jeffries from Manchester, believes in openness in financial affairs. She became convinced of the importance of making a will when, in her mid forties, she had some bad news concerning her health.
“When I found out I had cancer, I was a bit shocked,” she says.
“I had two children who I had raised by myself. ‘That’s it’, I thought, ‘you need to have sense, you need to get this sorted’”.
“My Mum wasn’t an open person and she didn’t sign and date her will. It was horrible, unbelievable. It took a long time to get it sorted.”
Mrs Jeffries says her main concern when making her will was seeking peace of mind from a future that was looking uncertain.
“I needed to feel safe and secure. I didn’t know what was going to happen but I do think peace of mind helps to fight it. … I made a will so that if anything happened to me everything would be split.”
A number of medical complications due to her treatment meant that Mrs Jefferies underwent 16 operations in two years, and nearly died. She is now referred to as the ‘miracle girl’, having survived against the odds.
“I’m happy that I got it sorted. I needed the security of knowing that I wouldn’t be a burden. My sisters have all done wills now, too.”
A performing opera singer in her youth, and now a grandmother, Mrs Jeffries continues to enjoy a get together and a good ‘sing song’ with her two sisters.
Mrs H
Mrs H a customer in Huddersfield, talks about the importance of making a will.
“Having worked for 18 years in elderly care, I’ve seen first hand what a problem it can be, and how devastating when there is no will.”
In situations where there is no will to specify what should happen to money, personal effects, and other assets left behind, all too often there is room for family disputes, disappointments and divisions.
Mrs H and her husband have had a will for many years, but they remade their joint will more than eight years ago. With one son, they feel that their situation is quite simple, but they still wanted to make things as straightforward as possible.
“It’s bad enough to have to deal with the grief and everything else when someone passes away … So we’ve made our will and we’ve told our son where everything is. We’ve done everything we can to make it easy for him.”
Likewise, when it comes to personal items of value, or those that have emotional significance, Mrs H has also made provision
“Personal items like jewellery, I’ve got sorted … those people know.”
Some do find it difficult to think about making provision for the time when they are not around. But for Mrs H who has seen the consequences of not making sufficient arrangements, it’s by far the best course of action:
“It’s sensible to make everything right and have it sorted,” she said.
