Personal and family law
Lifetime will
Lifetime will: arrange your affairs for later
Nobody likes to think about a situation in which you are temporarily or permanently no longer able to make decisions yourself. Yet this can happen to anyone, for example through an accident, illness or dementia. With a lifetime will, you ensure that your personal, financial and medical affairs are well arranged if you are no longer able to do so yourself.
A lifetime will is a notarial deed in which you record who may make decisions on your behalf when you can no longer do so yourself. You decide who you trust to look after your interests. This could be, for example, your partner, a family member, a friend or a professional administrator.
What do you arrange in a lifetime will?
In a lifetime will you can record various matters. Think, for example, of:
- who may handle your banking and payments;
- who may sell or let your home if necessary;
- who may continue or manage your business;
- how your assets are to be managed;
- who may take medical decisions on your behalf;
- gifts to children or other family members.
You decide yourself which powers you grant and from when they may be used.
Why a lifetime will?
Without a lifetime will, your loved ones cannot automatically act on your behalf. In some situations, administration (bewind), mentorship or guardianship (curatele) must then be applied for through the court. This costs time and money and can cause extra stress for your family.
With a lifetime will, you prevent uncertainty and stay in control of important choices. You ensure that your wishes are clear and that the right person can act on your behalf when needed
The role of the notary
A lifetime will must be drawn up carefully and be tailored to your personal situation. The notary discusses your wishes, explains the legal options and ensures that everything is clearly recorded in a notarial deed.
In addition, the notary checks whether you properly understand the consequences of your choices and ensures that the document is stored safely.
Peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones
With a lifetime will, you prevent others from having to make difficult decisions without knowing your wishes. You create clarity, certainty and peace of mind for yourself and for the people around you.
What can we do for you?
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Frequently asked questions
A lifetime will applies during your lifetime. In a lifetime will you therefore do not determine who your heirs are or to whom you wish to leave something. With a lifetime will you set out who may make decisions on your behalf at a time when you are still alive but can no longer do so yourself. A will is about what must happen after you have died.
With a codicil, you can leave certain movable property (for example jewellery or furniture) to a person without involving the notary. A codicil must be entirely handwritten, dated and signed. You cannot leave money or a house by means of a codicil.
A will is a notarial deed in which you set out what is to happen to your money, home, assets and debts after your death. You state who your heirs are and who receives what from you when you are no longer here.
In a will you can also provide for future situations. For example, if you have children or if your partner remarries after your death. You can also disinherit heirs. To settle your estate, you appoint an executor in your will.
If there is no will, or if the heirs designated in the will and their children have died, the law determines who your heirs are.
