Don’t Let Fate Decide: Why Every Indian Family Needs a Will (Now!)
Imagine you’ve built a secure, happy life—home, savings, gold, maybe a few investments. But the moment you’re gone, your control vanishes. Banks, lawyers, and distant relatives could have more say over your assets than your loved ones.
What’s a Will—And Why Should You Care?
A will guarantees your money, property, and possessions go to the people you choose. A living will is different—it lets you record your healthcare choices for times when you can’t speak for yourself.
Middle-class families often think, “I don’t have mountains to leave behind.” But surveys show less than 10% of Indians have a will (Financial Express, 2025). Compare this with the US or UK, where nearly half of adults have one. The gap means millions of Indian families face confusion, legal stress, and financial loss—just because the paperwork wasn’t done!
A staggering ₹1.84 lakh crore is lying idle in forgotten bank accounts, mutual funds, insurance, and other assets in India. This includes deposits, provident funds, shares and more, as confirmed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s October 2025 campaign (“Your Money, Your Right”).
When someone passes away without a will, families struggle to access funds, even for urgent needs. Legal delays, costly certificates, and family disputes are common—homes and bank accounts can remain frozen for years.
Famous Cases: The Price of Dying Without a Will
- Kalyani Family (Estate of Ms. Sulochana Kalyani): Multiple, conflicting wills and absence of clarity led to a years-long courtroom battle among family members, draining both emotion and money.
- Sanjay Kapur (Inheritance dispute involving Bollywood families): The high-profile Kapur family dispute spilled into Delhi High Court as heirs contested the lack of a clear will, leading to legal battles over property and inheritance rights—demonstrating that even wealthy, famous families aren’t immune to the pain caused by unclear wishes.
- Arunachala Gounder v. Ponnusamy (Supreme Court): This landmark case saw self-acquired property devolved not as the deceased might have wished but strictly by law, due to lack of will—causing disputes and delays for heirs.
How Many People Know About Living Wills?
Even after Supreme Court recognition, only about 27% of Indians have heard of living wills. Fewer have actually signed one. Yet most find it valuable once aware—a huge opportunity for education.
What Happens If You Don’t Make a Will?
Indian succession law (Hindu Succession Act, 1956) and other personal laws dictate who inherits, but not always in the way you’d want. Spouses, children, parents could spend months waiting for succession certificates, courts, legal heirship proofs—plus piles of paperwork and fees.
Ready to Take Charge? Here’s How.
- Draft a Simple Will: List your assets, name beneficiaries, and appoint an executor. Online tools like iWills.in make the process easy.
- Update When Life Changes: Marriage, property, children—review your will!
- Secure Your Nominations: On bank and investment documents, match your intent.
- Living Wills: Make healthcare wishes clear.
- Organize and Inform: Tell your executor where the will is kept.
The Bottom Line:
A will isn’t about death—it’s about love, clarity, and protecting family from stress. Don’t let fate (or strangers) decide who gets your hard-earned assets.
Ready for peace of mind? Create your will in minutes at iwills.in — your family will thank you.