Gift them peace with your will, not petals: Tax consultants’ Valentine’s Day message finds lasting echo

Indore: What if the most meaningful Valentine's Day gift was not a bouquet, but certainty for a lifetime? Days after Feb14, a campaign by tax and legal professionals in Madhya Pradesh encouraging people to write wills drew striking public interest, turning a symbolic gesture of love into a practical act of family protection.The initiative saw a significant number of people stepping forward to explore formal estate planning. To make the process accessible, ready-to-use will formats in Hindi and English were distributed, with more than 1000 copies handed out and nearly 80 individuals approaching professionals the same day to begin drafting their wills.Madhya Pradesh Tax Consultants Association described a will as perhaps the most meaningful "love letter" one can leave behind — one that replaces uncertainty with clarity and helps prevent disputes after death.The association president and senior advocate Sumit Nema said the response reflects a changing social reality in which financial assets are expanding, but conversations around inheritance remain uncomfortable. "True care for loved ones lies in ensuring freedom from future disputes through clear legal planning," he said.Among those who decided to prepare a will was Rajesh Mehta, a 52-year-old businessman from Indore, who said preparing a will was long delayed, but a necessary decision."We spend years building assets for our family, yet avoid discussing what happens after us. Preparing a will felt like taking responsibility and ensuring my children never face disputes or uncertainty," he said.A will is a written declaration specifying how property, savings, investments and valuables should be distributed after death. Experts noted that in the absence of a will, succession follows statutory rules that may not align with personal wishes and can sometimes lead to prolonged family disagreements.Chartered accountant Abhay Sharma said hesitation around wills is often misplaced. "Drafting a will is simple and inexpensive. It can be handwritten or typed and becomes legally valid once signed in the presence of two witnesses. Courts frequently treat handwritten wills as credible evidence," he said.Financial planners added that wills ensure smooth transfer of assets, reduce the risk of disputes, save legal costs and allow parents to appoint guardians for minor children. Property transferred through a will also does not attract inheritance tax under current Indian law, making it both a practical safeguard and a deeply emotional act of responsibility towards one's family.