Have you ever thought about what happens to people's property when they die? That's where wills come in. Traditionally, wills were only made by the elderly. Many young people think they don't need wills if they don't have kids or houses yet. But in recent years, this perception has started to change.
A white paper released by the China Will Registration Center in March revealed that more people in their 20s and 30s are now writing wills in China, reported China Daily. The Daily Mail also reported that more young people are writing wills thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the UK, only 18 percent of 18-to 34-уеаr-olds had wills in 2019, compared to 27 percent in 2021. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Emily James, 22, said the main reason she wrote a will was the pandemic. "In the current climate, you can't really get away from death - it's something my generation has never been faced with so distinctly before. The death count is broadcast every day, and most people know someone who has been affected by the virus, which starts to make you think and want to plan for your future."
Apart from the pandemic, public knowledge of celebrities' health conditions, like the British royal family, has led to more people writing wills. The highest number of wills written on a single day in 2021 was on Feb 18, following the late Prince Philip's admission to hospital, according to data from Farewill, one of the UK's biggest death planning companies.
Farewill's data also show that the legacies young people leave in their wills are reflections of current society. Music and pop culture collections were among the top things included in wills. The most common pop culture collections mentioned were Disney, Star Wars and Harry Potter memorabilia(纪念品).
The pandemic increased people's likelihood of including a gift to a charity in their will. Furry friends are also not forgotten. Farewill's data show nearly one-fifth of the people were making wills to ensure their pets were well looked after, with a total of 37 percent of will writers including plans for their pets.
