A representative public opinion survey, commissioned by the animal welfare organization “Tušti narvai” (Empty Cages), shows that only 8% of residents have already made a will, and another 35% are considering leaving one. Slightly fewer – 38% – indicate that they have not thought about a will, while 19% state that they are not considering it.
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The survey also revealed a clear influence of age on decision-making. Residents older than 46 years are more likely to consider making a will, while those who have already made one are usually older than 56 years. People aged 18–35 more often state that they have not thought about a will.
Gabrielė Vaitkevičiūtė, head of “Tušti narvai”, believes that the survey data reveals not a diminishing of the will’s importance, but rather a human tendency to postpone complex decisions. She acknowledges that in Lithuania, there are still prevalent attitudes that a will is only relevant to wealthy people, as well as only to residents of advanced age, and especially to those who have no family or other relatives.
“People plan trips, purchases, housing loans, children’s education, but decisions about what will happen after them are often left to a vague future. And this is natural – our contemporary culture is characterized by a particular sensitivity to end-of-life topics, and thus to planning what will remain after us. Perhaps an easier approach would emerge if it were known that making a will at any age is not a final and irreversible decision, let alone a declaration of an impending farewell to life.
Just as such a declaration is not the issuance of a donor card, which can also be done upon reaching adulthood. In both cases, the decision only shows a person’s responsibility, right, and desire to decide for themselves what is important to them,” says G. Vaitkevičiūtė.
Important not only for the elderly or the wealthy
The experience of the head of “Tušti narvai” in communicating with people at public events shows that not everyone has heard that an inheritance can also be bequeathed to non-governmental organizations – even if they have relatives. This was confirmed by a “Spinter tyrimai” survey – only 57% of respondents indicated that they knew about the possibility of bequeathing property to legal entities, including non-governmental organizations, through a will.
According to G. Vaitkevičiūtė, although this possibility is not widely discussed in Lithuania, it is already common practice in many Western countries.
“People are often surprised to learn that through a will, they can support not only relatives but also organizations whose activities are important to them. This could be animal protection, social assistance, culture, patient support, or another field. In this way, a person’s values remain alive and continue,” notes the public figure.
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“In a will, you can specify that you will support the organization with a percentage of your total assets, a specific amount, or specific property,” adds G. Vaitkevičiūtė.
She emphasizes that people also leave their value message through a will: “For some, family is most important. For others, support for animals, children, culture, education, or environmental protection is significant. In any case, a will allows values to be transformed into a real decision.”
A Will Can Be Adjusted Anytime
Lawyer Girius Ivoška, senior legal counsel at the professional law firm “Constat”, states that one of the most common reasons people delay making a will is the mistaken belief that a will is a final and irrevocable decision.
“Any legally competent adult can make a will. The most important thing to know is that it is not a one-time document for life. A will can be changed, supplemented, or revoked at any time if a person’s circumstances or opinion changes.”
According to him, this means that a decision can be made at a young age: “If today a person wants to leave part of their property to a non-governmental organization, and in the future a different family situation arises, the will can be updated. Therefore, there is no reason to wait for the ‘right’ age. Legally, such an age simply does not exist – one only needs to reach adulthood.”
The lawyer also emphasizes that if no will is left, property is distributed according to the order stipulated by law, taking into account the lines of inheritance: “When a person does not express their will themselves, general rules legally replace it. Therefore, for those for whom an individual decision is important, a will is the clearest way to establish that will.”
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