We were delighted with the entries received in the ‘What’s Your Excuse?’ wills competition.  A special thank you to all who participated.  We appreciated both the humour in many entries and the seriousness of many others.

Excuses received ranged from people who have never before found a firm which was able to make the process seem nice and simple, showing [them] an easy pathway to promptly get the job done without hassle and at reasonable cost at one end of the spectrum, to those who were going to be cryogenically frozen and/or don’t intend to die, at the other.

The Winner:

“We finally arranged a visit with a lawyer (a sole practitioner) … after two months we phoned – not ready yet.  After another two months we phoned – still not ready.  After one more month – his father had died and he couldn’t do any work.  After the fourth phone call and still no answer, we said forget it, don’t send a bill as we won’t pay it.  So we have no Will other than the one set up when married 29 years ago – now four children later!  So this is not humorous at all, just frustration, as it took weeks to set up the first appointment.”

The winner receives a bottle of premium New Zealand wine and a voucher for a free Will.  Congratulations!

We also confirm that those who have entered the competition and make a Will at Rainey Collins before the end of May 2009 will also be given the opportunity to make an Enduring Power of Attorney at $50 off the normal cost.

A sampling of other entries which are worthy of mention include the following:

“I have no Willpower.”

“I don’t need a Will – I’m being cryogenically frozen.”

“I don’t intend to die!”

“I have been sitting on my hands for so long I have permanent paralysis.”

“My ex wife took all my money, the house, my kids and the dog.  If I had a Will she would contest that too.  This way (intestate) she wouldn’t get any more.”

“With cryopreservation I will be coming back so all I need is a trust to keep all my stuff safe!”

“Since the first of our three children we have been too sleep deprived to make any decisions let alone a Will.”

And this following one which also wins a merit prize of a bottle of premium New Zealand wine for effort!

“Hi, I’m Will Willy wills of Will Way, Wilton and we have four willow trees but we don’t live in the wilderness but I’m not known as will-o-the-wisp.  I work for the Bill.  My wife Wilmar, son Wilson, and daughter Wiltry Wills, will not make a Will till Rainey Collins Lawyers think we fit the Bill to have a Will.  We know a lot about our family name Wills but the other Will will be beneficial to us so looking forward to Rainey Collins Lawyers willingly willing to wither up a Will for us Wills.  This last few minutes has given me a headache so I’m taking a pill to hear about the Will but I don’t think it will break the till in paying for the Wills Will.  The Wills willingly accepted the Will excuse competition, so till later, see you later.

Will Willy Wills*.”

*Not willy his will name.