We Mexicans have a very close relationship with death; we make fun of it, we represent it in art and we dedicate one of the most emotional parties of the year to it. But when it comes to our own, we prefer to avoid the subject, because nobody likes to think about the day when it will no longer be present. This, coupled with The idea that making a will is “complicated and expensive” means that very few of us prepare legally for that moment. According to the survey by Notarial Services of Mexico City, 20 percent of the capital’s population has a will, while the national average is 6 percent.
However, the lack of a culture of prevention in Mexico is not the only barrier for people to make their will. They also face other myths such as “I only have to do it if I have a lot of assets” or “I’m too young to worry about it”, which are added to the fact that the relationship with notaries and lawyers is usually distant, so we prefer avoid it until absolutely necessary.
The entrepreneur who helps you with your will
For William Monroy, expert lawyer in inheritances and legacies, it is necessary to change this perception. And it is that, according to the specialist, Talking openly about our will when we die and carrying out the relevant procedures will not only help the heirs to avoid many problems in the future, but to the possible testator to reduce the anxiety generated by not having affairs in order.
“We don’t have the date on which we are going to die, so by making your will today you will protect your assets and your loved ones,” he says.
Also, while working at the renowned consulting firm Deloitte, he noticed that issues related to wills and successions were often treated too coldly. In contrast, he considered that the reflection on death and what it will mean for our loved ones is something extremely delicate that requires being treated with warmth and humanity. It was this philosophy that prompted him to leave his job at the firm where he had been working for more than 17 years to become an entrepreneur.
The first project he created in this new facet was Horizonte, a family office with a comprehensive and humanistic approach that guides heads of families, mainly businesswomen, to develop a succession plan so that their values and heritage transcend for generations. However, although this company has helped many families, Guillermo’s intention was to bring this methodology to as many people as possible.
It was thus that two years ago mento was born, a digital platform that offers online courses and advice so that any Internet user can make their will from home, even if they do not know the legal terms that this entails. The timing of launching the service was more than relevant, as the COVID-19 pandemic had propelled online education skyrocketing to become the world’s primary means of learning. Similarly, during the last two years, wills made up the vast majority of procedures carried out in notaries in Mexico.
Do not make the will, but plan it
For the lawyer and entrepreneur, the main objective of mento is not only to encourage people to make their will, but to “plan” it. The difference, he explains, is that planning a will goes far beyond the simple distribution of material goods, since it is key to involve the heirs and their own interests.
“It is thought that the will is a procedure, when in reality it is an authentic planning and requires care, communication and commitment from the one who is going to inherit as well as from the one who receives it”, assures the also author.
Under this assumption, it developed different plans that consider both the economic and family situation of the interested party. For example, the Will Plan is a very didactic course that provides basic knowledge to understand this procedure; while the Guardian Angel Plan is aimed at fathers and/or mothers with young children who must define who would be their guardian in the event that they are absent; and the Armored and United Family Plan, which is designed for groups with older children, who are given personal finance courses, among other tools.
Although, despite the fact that campaigns such as “September: testamentary month” have proven to be successful, the testamentary culture in Mexico is still deficient and it is necessary to extend it to more segments of the population. Guillermo believes that it is through online education that it is possible to promote it and make it accessible to everyone.
“For this reason, in mento we move away from the common and complicated language of lawyers, making it possible for you to understand what you need to sign your will in just 15 minutes,” he concludes.