Getting My Will Written

I wrote my first will back in 2023. Since then, I’ve read more books on estate planning, picked up legal insights, and—perhaps most importantly—started building Heyimwill, a platform designed to make will-writing simple and accessible for everyone.

Once I got Heyimwill up and running after 2 years of designing and building the platform, I decided to go through the entire process—as the first customer. I wanted to understand how the journey really felt for someone on the other side of the product, and make sure it all works well for you and the lawyer.

If you’re feeling daunted by the idea of writing a will, you’re not alone. But I promise you: it’s much less intimidating than it seems. Here’s what I did—and what you can expect.

Step 1: Listing My Assets

The first thing I did was outline the key assets I wanted to include in my will. I started with the obvious ones:

• Bank accounts (local, foreign)

• Investment accounts

• My vehicle

• Life insurance policies (nominated)

If I had a pet, I'd make sure to add that in too—if you have one, this is a great time to think about who should care for them.

Once I had these assets listed in the app, I essentially had the base of a working draft. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a great starting point. And that’s the point—you don’t need everything figured out before talking to a lawyer. That’s what they’re there for.

Step 2: Connect with Lawyer

Once I had a draft, I connected with a lawyer through Heyimwill. I made the payment, booked an appointment, and got a confirmation—all within a few clicks.

On the appointment day, I joined the lawyer on a Microsoft Teams call. She had already reviewed my draft and came prepared with helpful feedback. For example:

• I had mistakenly assigned a beneficiary as a witness (you shouldn’t do that).

• I hadn’t included enough detail to help my executor locate certain assets.

• She suggested I add a personal message to loved ones—something I hadn’t even thought of.

That one conversation took just 30 minutes, because I've got all of my little assets noted down already. The chat with my lawyer was straightforward, helpful, and surprisingly reassuring.

Step 3: Reviewing the Drafted Will

A few days later, I received a notification: the lawyer had uploaded a draft of my official will.

I reviewed it, filled in a few remaining details (like my NRIC, witness phone numbers, and some account numbers), and submitted it back through the dashboard.

Shortly after, the lawyer uploaded the final version—along with step-by-step signing instructions.

Step 4: Signing and Finalising

To finish it off, I needed to:

• Print the will

• Sign it in the presence of two witnesses (I'm currently abroad, but luckily I'll have 2 friends who could be my witnesses visiting soon)

• Make three copies of the signed document

• Share copies with the executor and key family members

One thing I learned that I hadn’t known before: your executor doesn’t have to carry out all the steps themselves. They can engage a law firm to handle the process, and the fees can be paid from your estate. This is especially helpful for loved ones who may already be going through an emotionally difficult time.

A Few Final Thoughts

And just like that—I had a legally valid will.

I’ll probably revisit and update it in a year or two. Life changes, after all. New assets get acquired, new people enter the picture. Also, a quick tip: if you get married, your will is automatically revoked—so don’t forget to update it afterward.

If you’ve been putting off writing your will, I hope this gives you a clearer idea of how manageable the process can be. At Heyimwill, we’re building with care so that when the time comes, both you and your loved ones are prepared.