Survey exposes lack of will-power

Nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders over 40 do not have a will or have one but need to revise it, a survey has found.

The research, which interviewed more than 750 Kiwis online, showed only 38 per cent had up-to-date wills.

Public Trust customer centre manager Michelle Pope said the research, conducted by the Cancer Society to find out how many people left bequests to charity in their wills, were similar to the company's figures.

The fact that 4 per cent of people had no intention of ever getting a will was a worry, Ms Pope said.

"You do tend to get some people who think, 'I've got a husband or a wife and I've got a close-knit family and if anything happens they'll look after things for me when I die'."

But people did not realise the implications of not having their requests down on paper.

"If somebody passes away without a will, their partner is entitled to so much and then there's a portion that goes to the children and things like that. That might not be what the person wants.

"It doesn't give you the freedom to record what you would like to happen, it's more what the law states should happen."

People often used the excuse of not having assets to pass on, but did not realise a will could also record other requests such as who they wanted to take guardianship of their children.

If the same survey had been done 10 years ago the percentage of people without a will would probably have been bigger, Ms Pope said.

People now tended to be more aware of the importance of having a will, and there were many more blended families, meaning "it doesn't take much for people to challenge a will these days".

The number of people who forgot to update their will was also alarmingly high, she said.

"A lot of people do wills when they're younger and then don't do anything for years and years. They might have children, additions to the family and never think to update the will.

"Or they might divorce and not realise that if they remarry their will is revoked."

Of the people who did have wills, 31 per cent had revised it three times, 18 per cent had revised once and 31 per cent twice.

South Islanders appeared to be more concerned about where their property went after they died. In Otago and Southland, 81 per cent of people had wills, compared with 59 per cent in Northland and Auckland. Those in metropolitan areas were also more likely to have wills.

The incidence of having a will increased with age and among people with children.

Women were more likely to be happy with their will than men, who tended to change their will more often.

Cancer Society national business development manager Katherine Monks said that despite the recession nine out of 10 respondents donated to charity.

The society hoped the survey would help it in its campaign to encourage Kiwis to leave bequests to the charity in their will.

"Leaving a gift in a will is such a special, meaningful thing for a charity," Ms Monks said.

"What we're hoping, all of us in the charity sector, is that by doing this, it's prompting awareness about the benefits of leaving a gift in a will.

"And it doesn't necessarily have to be a large one," she said.

"Sometimes that's the perception.

"People think 'Gosh, a legacy, a bequest, a gift, that must mean millions'.

"Well often it's just a few thousand. Every dollar makes a difference.

"We always ask people to make sure they look after their family first then consider us."

Ms Monks said bequests often came from cancer sufferers or who had family or friends with cancer.

LAST REQUESTS

* 38 per cent have a will they're happy with.
* 30 per cent have a will that needs updating.
* 28 per cent do not have a will but intend to get one.
* 4 per cent do not have a will and have no intention of getting one.