NOT willing to take chances, more people - including younger Singaporeans and foreigners based here - are making their wills.

Perhaps it is the recurring news of unpredictable events like earthquakes and floods, which can snuff out lives in a flash, said will-writing firms, several of which have sprung up in recent years to cater to demand.

Wills can also be done up at law firms or even by the individual.

A will is a record of a person's wishes on the distribution of his assets upon death. The minimum age at which one can make a will is 21, and a valid will has to be witnessed by two adults who are not beneficiaries or a spouse of a beneficiary.

Will-writing firms also note that the younger crowd is not bothered by the link between making a will and death - a matter that their elders may consider taboo.

While there is no concrete figure on the number of wills being made, statistics from the Wills Registry show an increase.

The purpose of the registry, run by the Ministry of Law, is to provide beneficiaries and next-of-kin with information of a person's will. It is not mandatory to register one's will, but the service is free.

Last year, there were 9,403 wills registered, up 14 per cent from the previous year's figure. There were 1,623 such records in the first two months of this year.

Will-writing service providers are benefiting from the greater interest, with some reporting a doubling in business over the past five years. They charge between $200 and $1,000.

Said Mr Patrick Chang, 50, a will writer at Simply Wills: 'While the average age of clients is 45 and they are normally married with young children, I have seen many more younger clients in their 20s.'

More than 15 per cent of his customers last year were under 30, compared with about 1 per cent when he started the business 10 years ago.

Mr David Lee, business development manager at Rockwills, said the frequent occurrence of disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, is a push factor.

Rockwills, which operates in Malaysia and Singapore, has seen 3,588 clients aged between 21 and 30 so far.

The Singapore branch, which started in 2008, drew up 536 wills last year, of which 10 per cent were by people under 30. In 2009, it drew up 275 wills.

Ms Tan Hwee Ling, 24, is among those who have made their wills. Last year, the health-care executive and her husband, 26, who works in the banking industry, decided to have their separate wills done professionally.

She said: 'Instead of leaving everything to my husband if I pass on, I've set aside half to my parents and two siblings to make sure they are well taken care of.'

Her will also indicates what her children will get, if she has any in future.

'The wording in the will is as important as the intent, and more are becoming aware of that,' said Ms Mindy Teo, 46, director at Wills And Trusts, explaining the demand for professional help.

She used to see 100 customers a year when the business started six years ago. It jumped to about 500 last year, of which foreigners and younger clients made up about 10 per cent. Six years ago, the figure was less than 1 per cent.

'Customers used to come from referrals from financial consultants, for example, but now more are walking in and have a clearer idea of what they want. More are from overseas too as more nationalities work here,' she noted.

One example is China-born Susan Xu, 35, a customer service officer who has worked here since 2007. Her will states that 90 per cent of her assets will be split evenly between her husband and daughter, with the rest going to her parents.

Lawyer Eben Ong, from Loh Eben Ong & Partners, said a properly drafted will is vital as one that is ambiguous can leave assets in limbo or result in legal tussles.

Another danger, cautioned Ms Teo, is the practice of some people drafting their own wills taking a format from the Internet. Those adapted from American sources, for instance, may not hold water in Singapore as there is a difference between the legal systems in the two countries.

One person who has yet to make a will but has plans to do so is salesman Ethan Hee, 24.

'I know of people around my age dying of illnesses and freak accidents, so the reality and urgency to make a will is very real. My only regret, perhaps, is that I don't have much to give my loved ones.'

darylc@sph.com.sg