I know, I know. Nobody wants to think about this. We are all going to live forever, right? But here is the truth. If you have any assets at all, a bank account, a flat, mutual funds, even a PPF account, you need a Will. Without one, succession laws decide who gets what. And those laws do not always match what you would have wanted.
Let me give you an example. Say you are married with two kids. You die without a Will. Under Hindu Succession Act, your spouse and children share your property. But what if you wanted your spouse to get everything first, and the kids to get their share only after she passes? Too bad. The law does not care. What if you have a parent or sibling who depends on you and you wanted to leave them something? The default succession might not include them the way you intended. The law is rigid. Your wishes are not. So you need to write them down.
Your Will should list all your assets. And I mean all. Bank accounts, fixed deposits, mutual funds, shares, PPF, EPF, property, gold, and yes, digital assets too. Crypto wallets, online accounts, anything that has value. If you do not mention it, your family might not even know it exists. Or they might spend years trying to figure out how to access it. Make a list. Put it in the Will. Name an Executor, someone you trust to carry out your wishes. This person will be responsible for distributing your assets according to the Will. Choose wisely. It is a big job.
Now, do you need to register your Will? Legally, no. A Will written on plain paper, signed by you in the presence of two witnesses, is valid. But here is what I think. Registration costs only ₹100 to ₹500 at the Sub-Registrar. It creates a public record. And that makes it much harder for anyone to challenge the Will later on grounds of forgery or mental incapacity. If your Will is registered, the burden of proof shifts to whoever is challenging it. They have to prove you were not of sound mind or that someone forged your signature. That is not easy. So in my opinion, registration is worth it. It is cheap insurance against family fights.
One more thing. Probate used to be mandatory in some states. You had to get court approval before the Will could be executed. That meant delays, lawyers, and fees. But after the December 2025 amendment, probate is now optional across India. So there is no excuse. You can write a Will, register it, and your family can use it without going through the court. The process is simpler than it has ever been.
I get it. Thinking about your own death is uncomfortable. But think about your family instead. If something happens to you tomorrow, would they know what you wanted? Would they have to guess? Would they end up fighting? A Will takes maybe an hour to write. It costs almost nothing. And it gives you peace of mind that your wishes will be followed. Just do it. Your future self, and your loved ones, will thank you.