Interest in making a will grows in Finland

Almost a fifth of Finns (19%) have now made a will with interest growing over the past year, according to a survey by the Finnish legacy campaign Hyvatestamentti.fi. In 2021 15% had made one.

Over the age of 55, 34% of people have a will, with 37% of Finns saying they have considered making one.

Pia Tornikoski, general secretary of VaLa comments:

“Awareness of the possibility of both drawing up a will and donating a will has clearly increased in Finland. In 2014 when the legacy giving campaign started in Finland it was estimated that 10% had made a will and less than 1% was interested in leaving a legacy.”

For most (67% of respondents who had made or had considered making a will), the main reason is to decide where their property should go after their death. For 28% it is the desire to remember people who are important to them, while for 21%, it is about tax planning for their heirs. 10% said promoting activities in line with their own values ​​through a legacy was important, with more emphasis here among 18-54 year-olds.

The survey also found age and gender to have a strong influence on the causes respondents are willing to support with a legacy. Women are more interested in supporting the wellbeing of children and young people, treatment of diseases and health promotion, nature conservation, animal welfare, the wellbeing of the elderly at home, and human rights. Men, on the other hand, are more interested in supporting science.

In Finland, a will is most often prepared by a lawyer. 70% of those with a will say that they used their services, while 27% wrote it themselves. For 18-34-year-olds, most (52%) said it was prepared by themselves, or by an acquaintance or a relative (17%). 10% of those with or considering a will expect to prepare two or more documents during their lifetime.

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