Dai-ichi Life Research Institute report
2024.02.16
life planning
life planning
Wellbeing QOL Perspective “Inheritance for Single Person Households – Use of the Handwritten Will and Will Filing System”
Reiko Yamamoto
According to the 2020 National Living Conditions Survey, single-person households accounted for 32.9%, or about one-third, of all households. Notably, the number of older single-person households is increasing year on year, with 31.8% of households aged 65 and older made up of single-person households.
Additionally, the percentage of people who are unmarried at age 50, known as the lifetime unmarried rate, is increasing, making it more likely that people will be living alone (in a single household) at the end of their lives. their life.
In the unlikely event that something happens without anyone knowing, one of the things to worry about are inheritance issues, such as who to trust with your assets and how.
Even if you think you don’t have enough assets to leave to someone else, you may have savings, a house, assets you inherited from parents or relatives (or that you may inherit in the future), or if you are an employee of a company, they may have corporate shares, pension funds, etc. If you organize your assets with an eye to the future, depending on the period, the amount of your assets can reach a considerable amount.
If there is a legal heir such as a spouse, children, parents/grandparents or siblings, the legal heir is usually the one who inherits the property, but if there is no legal heir or other relative, what happens? of, the deceased’s inherited assets could end up in the national treasury. A will is a way to entrust your assets in the form you want.
There are three types of wills: handwritten wills, notarized wills, and secret wills. A “handwritten will archiving system” will be launched in July 2020, and the Legal Affairs Bureau will convert handwritten wills into data for 3,900 yen per copy. It is now stored. This system has helped avoid the disadvantages of handwritten wills that can be easily drafted, such as loss or forgery, and not be discovered by the grieving family even if the will is drawn up. Furthermore, if the testator wishes, there is also a service that notifies designated persons in advance of the existence of a will after the testator’s death.
The number of wills currently registered will reach 65,597 by the end of December 2023, with around 17,000 applications filed each year. From October 2023 it will be possible to designate up to three people to be notified. registrations will rise to 19,000 in 2023.
By having a will, you can make your wishes come true through inheritance, such as leaving a bequest to a partner, grandchild, spouse of a grandchild or child, someone you care for, a person or institution you care about, such as the your alma mater, who is not a legitimate heir. You can do it. Furthermore, by using the “Handwritten will archiving system”, it is possible to prevent wills from being lost or tampered with, invalidated due to incomplete format and from assets being divided without the will being reflected, at low costs.
It is also important to consult with trusted experts and advisors as part of your advance preparation.
“Wills” are stories in novels and dramas and may seem overwhelming for ordinary families, but “wills” are useful not only for one-person families but also for realizing your wishes for the future. Why not consider creating a book?
Reiko Yamamoto
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