My Father Didn’t Have a Will. Neither Do You.

My father died in 2019 without a will.

He was 67. Retired IAS officer. Methodical about everything. Filed taxes on time. Kept his car serviced. Never missed a doctor’s appointment.

But he didn’t have a will.

After his death, our family spent two years untangling his estate. Property disputes. Frozen bank accounts. Visits to courts and government offices. Relationships strained.

All preventable. If he’d spent one afternoon on a will.

I swore I’d be different.

Then I turned 45, and I realized: I still didn’t have a will either.

What Happened When My Father Died

The Immediate Shock

My father left behind:

A house in Lucknow (our family home)
A flat in Noida (investment property)
Bank accounts across 4 banks
FDs worth about ₹35 lakh
A government pension
LIC policies from the 1980s

And three adult children: me, my brother, my sister.

He assumed we’d “figure it out.” We were adults, after all. Professionals. Reasonable people.

He was wrong about what reasonable people do when there’s no clear guidance.

The Property Battle

The family home in Lucknow.

My mother lived there. She assumed it was hers. So did we.

Under Hindu Succession Act, without a will:

My mother inherited 1/4
Each of us three children inherited 1/4

The house my mother lived in was suddenly 75% owned by her children.

My brother lived closest. He thought he should get the house - he’d been taking care of our parents. My sister thought it should be sold and divided equally. I just wanted things settled.

We didn’t fight. Not exactly. But we had “discussions” that lasted 18 months.

The Noida Flat

The investment property was simpler to divide, in theory. Sell it, split the money.

But:

Mutation required all four legal heirs to sign
My sister was in the US, couldn’t come for months
The buyer got impatient and walked away
Property prices fell 12% while we sorted things out

The flat sold for ₹12 lakh less than the original offer.

The Bank Accounts

My father had accounts in 4 banks. One had my mother as joint holder - that was easy.

The other three? Succession certificate required.

Timeline: 11 months.

Cost: ₹65,000 in fees and lawyer.

Meanwhile: ₹28 lakh sat frozen, earning nothing useful.

The Insurance Surprise

My father’s LIC policies from the 1980s had his mother as nominee.

His mother died in 2007.

The claims required:

Legal heir certificate
NOCs from all legal heirs
Indemnity bonds
Extra documentation because nominee was deceased

A 30-day claim became a 7-month ordeal.

Why My Father Didn’t Have a Will

I asked my mother: “Didn’t he ever talk about making a will?”

Her answer explained everything:

“He always said there’s time. He was healthy. What was the rush? And you children would sort it out - you’re all educated, reasonable people.”

There’s time. What’s the rush. You’ll sort it out.

The three sentences that cost us ₹15+ lakh and two years of family stress.

The Psychology of Not Having a Will

I’ve thought about this a lot. Why do smart, organized people avoid making wills?

”I’m not dying soon”

My father was 67 and healthy. His own father lived to 84. He figured he had time.

He had a heart attack six weeks after his 67th birthday.

The math doesn’t care about your health. 1 in 400 45-year-olds die each year. 1 in 50 65-year-olds. The odds aren’t high, but they’re not zero.

”It’s complicated”

My father had two properties, some accounts, three children. Not complex.

But he’d heard about disputed wills, legal challenges, family fights. The topic seemed like a minefield.

In reality: a simple will takes 2-3 hours with a lawyer. ₹5,000-15,000. Done.

”It’s morbid”

Who wants to sit down and plan for their death?

Making a will feels like acknowledging mortality. Like tempting fate. Like giving up somehow.

But not making a will isn’t immortality. It’s leaving your family with a puzzle instead of a plan.

”They’ll work it out”

The classic Indian assumption. We’re a loving family. We don’t fight about money.

Until there’s money to divide. And no guidance. And everyone has a different idea of “fair.”

My family loves each other. We still had 18 months of difficult conversations.

”Everything will go to my wife anyway”

This is what my father believed. Many Indian men believe it.

It’s wrong.

Under Hindu law, without a will, everything is divided among wife AND children. The family home belongs partially to children the day the father dies.

If you want your wife to inherit everything, you need a will that says so.

My Reckoning at 45

I turned 45 in 2024. After what I went through with my father’s estate, I should have had a will the day I turned 35.

I didn’t.

I’d thought about it. I’d discussed it with my wife. I’d even researched lawyers.

But I hadn’t done it.

Why?

The same reasons my father didn’t:

I wasn’t dying soon (I assumed)
It seemed complicated (it wasn’t)
I didn’t want to think about death (nobody does)
My wife would figure it out (that’s what my father thought too)

I was becoming my father. And that terrified me.

What I Did About It

Week 1: The Reality Check

I made a list of everything I owned:

Flat (still paying off)
Investments (MFs, stocks, FDs)
Insurance policies
Bank accounts
Small business income

Nothing complex. Nothing unusual. Just the normal financial life of a 45-year-old professional.

Then I imagined myself dying and my wife going through what my mother went through.

Bank visits. Succession certificates. Conflicting claims. Uncertainty.

That image was enough.

Week 2: Two Things

First: I signed up for Anshin and documented everything - all accounts, insurance policies, investments, property. My wife is set as a trusted contact. If something happens to me, she can access all this information through Anshin’s verification process.

This took about 30 minutes. Now she knows what exists, where it is, and who to call.

Second: I found a lawyer through a friend’s recommendation. First consultation: 30 minutes, ₹2,000.

She asked simple questions:

What do you own?
Who do you want to inherit what?
Are there any complications (estranged family, disputed property)?

I answered. She drafted.

Week 3: The Will

I signed my will on a Tuesday evening. Two witnesses. Done.

What my will says (simplified):

Everything goes to my wife if she survives me
If she doesn’t, everything to my children equally
Specific guardian named for minor child
Executor named (my brother)

Nothing complicated. No clever trust structures. No tax optimization. Just clear guidance.

Week 4: The Conversation

The hardest part.

I sat with my wife and walked through:

What I owned (she knew most, not all)
What the will says
Where the will is kept (with lawyer, copy at home)
That everything is documented in Anshin
Who to call if something happens

She teared up. I almost stopped. We finished anyway.

Now she knows. If I’m hit by a bus tomorrow, she’s not searching. She’s not guessing. She’s not fighting with anyone.

What a Will Actually Costs

Approach	Cost	Validity
DIY (handwritten, witnessed)	₹0	Valid but risky
Online will service	₹1,000-5,000	Valid, basic coverage
Lawyer-drafted, simple	₹5,000-15,000	Valid, proper
Lawyer-drafted, complex (trusts, etc.)	₹25,000+	Valid, comprehensive

For most people, ₹10,000 covers a perfectly good will.

What NOT having a will costs:

Consequence	Cost
Succession certificate	₹50,000-2,00,000 + 6-12 months
Property mutation delays	Lakhs in opportunity cost
Family disputes	Relationships (priceless)
Legal challenges	₹5,00,000+

The math is simple: ₹10,000 now vs. ₹5+ lakh later.

The Excuses You’re Making (And Why They’re Wrong)

“I only have one child, so no disputes”

Great. What if your child is a minor? Who manages their inheritance?

What if you and your spouse die together? Where do the assets go?

A will isn’t just about dividing. It’s about clarity.

”Everything is in joint accounts with my spouse”

Joint accounts pass to the survivor. That’s true.

What about:

Insurance policies (nominee ≠ owner)?
Investments in your name only?
Property in your name?
Your EPF/PPF?

One joint account doesn’t cover your whole estate.

”I don’t have much to leave”

If you have anything - a bank account, some investments, a vehicle - you have an estate.

The less you have, the more painful disputes become. ₹5 lakh divided angrily is worse than ₹5 crore divided smoothly.

”My parents are still alive, I’ll deal with it later”

You could die before your parents. Young people die. Accidents happen.

Your spouse and children need protection regardless of your parents’ age.

”I’ll do it when I retire”

Average retirement age: 60.

Average life expectancy: 73.

That leaves 13 years of retirement to “get around to it.”

Many people don’t even make it to retirement. Of those who do, many procrastinate until death anyway.

If you’re reading this, do it now.

The Minimum Viable Will

If the full process seems overwhelming, here’s the minimum:

Handwritten Will (Legal in India)

Write this by hand (typed wills need notarization):

I, [Full Name], son/daughter of [Father's Name], residing at [Address],
of sound mind, declare this to be my last will.

I bequeath all my property, movable and immovable,
to my wife [Name] absolutely.

In the event my wife predeceases me, all property shall go
to my children [Names] in equal shares.

I appoint [Name] as the executor of this will.

[Signature]
[Date]
[Place]

Witnesses:
1. [Name, Address, Signature]
2. [Name, Address, Signature]

This is:

Legally valid
Better than nothing
Covers the basics

Get a proper will drafted later. But if you die tomorrow, this helps.

The Will Checklist

Before you die, you need:

Start Here (Anshin):

All accounts documented in Anshin
Spouse/trusted contact added
Access instructions saved
Nominees tracked (so you know what to update)

Essential (Will):

Will drafted (at least handwritten)
Will witnessed (2 witnesses, not beneficiaries)
Will location known to executor/spouse
Spouse knows the will exists

Better:

Will drafted by lawyer
Will registered (optional but helpful)
Executor confirmed and briefed
Nominees updated on all accounts
Discussion with family about wishes

If you have minor children:

Guardian named in will
Guardian knows and agrees
Provisions for children’s expenses

What I Tell My Son

My son is 14. One day, I’ll tell him about his grandfather’s estate. The two years of stress. The money lost. The relationships strained.

But I’ll also tell him: “I made a will. I made sure your mother knows where everything is. If something happens to me, you won’t go through what I went through.”

That’s the real inheritance. Not the money. The clarity.

My father gave us love, values, and education. He forgot to give us a plan.

I won’t make that mistake.

Your Next Step

You’re reading this for a reason.

Maybe you’re 35 and just had a kid. Maybe you’re 45 and feeling your mortality. Maybe you just came from a funeral and realized you’re unprepared.

Whatever the reason, you have a choice:

Option A: Close this article. Tell yourself you’ll do it later. Put it on the mental list of “someday” tasks.

This is what my father did. This is what I did for 10 years.

Option B: Do something today.

Start with the easiest step:

Sign up for Anshin (15 minutes) - Document what you own, add your spouse as a trusted contact. This doesn’t replace a will, but it makes sure your family knows what exists and where to find it.
Then make a will - Call a lawyer and schedule a consultation. Or write a basic handwritten will tonight.
Have the conversation - Tell your spouse what you’ve done.

The perfect estate plan takes weeks. A basic setup takes an afternoon.

My father didn’t have a will. For years, neither did I.

Now I do. And everything is documented in Anshin.

You should do the same.

Your family doesn’t have to go through this. Anshin keeps your financial details organized and shared with the people who matter.

Download Anshin →

My Father Didn't Have a Will. Neither Do You.