IELTS Reading Practice – Sample 25 (GT)

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage? Write:

          TRUE              if the statement agrees with the information

          FALSE            if the statement contradicts the information

         NOT GIVEN    if there is no information on this

1. Expenses for your funeral will be taken from your estate after all your other debts have been settled.

2. To ensure that any charitable donations you wish to make go to the correct organisations, write down the registered numbers of your chosen charities.

3. Your executors are responsible for organising your funeral.

4. If you have an expanded family where both you and your partner have children from previous relationships, and possibly also joint children, a solicitor is the best person to help you write your will.

5. If you use the free services of a charity to write your will, you have to leave that charity a donation in the will.

6. It is a good idea to ask two of the people who will inherit from you on your death to witness your will.

Writing a Will

 Information needed for writing a will

Your assets: Make a list of your assets. These include bank account balances, investments, retirement plans, life insurance policies, property, valuables such as jewellery or works of art and any other possessions you want to leave to a beneficiary. The sum of your assets is known as your estate.

Your debts: Make a list of any debts you owe. Your estate will need to settle these debts from your assets before your beneficiaries can inherit. These could include things such as credit cards debts, a car loan and a partially paid mortgage. The first debt on your assets will likely be probate costs and funeral expenses.

Your beneficiaries: These are the people or organisations who will inherit the belongings and assets you leave behind.

Make a list of the people you want to leave something to and what you want to leave each of them. If you also wish to leave donations to any charities in your will, make a list of these. Include the charity’s full name, address and registered charity number and how much you want to leave them.

Your executors: Executors are the people who deal with distributing your estate after you've died. Being an executor can involve a lot of work and responsibility so consider the people you appoint carefully. It is recommended to have two executors.

Your executors will make sure your wishes are carried out and that your beneficiaries receive the money or belongings you’ve left them. Their role can also include filing your final taxes, paying any bills you left behind and closing your financial accounts.

Your children’s legal guardian: If you have children, you will need to appoint a legal guardian in the eventuality that their other parent predeceases you or has no parental rights. This legal guardian will be responsible for your children’s welfare. That includes food, shelter, health and schooling until age 18.

Other wishes: These could include such things as who looks after any pets you leave behind. You may wish to leave a sum of money to the new owner to help with expenses.

Funeral wishes: You may wish to leave instruction for your funeral. Some people just state whether they want to be buried or cremated. Others list details of hymns, songs, readings, poems, etc. that they would like included in the funeral service.

Writing your will

You can do this in a number of ways.

Solicitors: You may wish to get advice from a solicitor who specialises in writing wills. This is advisable if your family situation is complex.

Professional will writers: Professional will writers aren’t qualified solicitors but they are generally well-trained specialists. They will usually visit you in the comfort of your home which can make the process of writing your will less stressful. If you decide to use one, first check whether they are a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters.

Charities: Some charities offer free will-drafting services to encourage will-making and leaving charitable legacies. If there is a particular charity that you wish to donate to in your will, it is worth checking whether they provide this service.

Banks: Some banks offer will-writing services and advice about estate planning. However, some banks charge high fees for this service so beware of this.

Make your own will: You can write your own will but you must make sure that it is valid. A will is a legal document so it needs to be written and signed correctly. There are many online services that can help you write your own will.

Your completed will

Signing and witnessing the will: You must sign your will in the presence of two independent witnesses who must also sign it in your presence. All three people should be in the room together when each one signs. If the will is signed incorrectly, it is not valid. Beneficiaries of the will, their spouses or civil partners cannot act as witnesses.

Will storage: Store your will safely.

Leave your will with a solicitor, your bank or safely stored at home. Make sure that your executors know where your will is kept. 

  1.  False

  2.  True

  3.  Not given

  4.  True

  5.  Not given

  6.  False

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