I had mine done after my divorce a couple years back. I think early 60's is the best time but I had to make a lot of changes after the divorce. In ideal conditions? I think at age 60 is the time to do that.
You should make a will as soon as you have an estate worth fighting over. If you are attending to someone's affairs and they left no particular estate but you run across something that looks like a will, burn it. Even if it says "Share and share alike", it can tie up proceedings for years.
Based on personal experience I would recommend everyone regardless of age or gender make out a will; a living directive; and a letter of intent. A living directive has many names but it is a document where you lay out your health and treatment preference and you name your health advocate who will legally defend your medical desires. A letter of intent also has many uses but in this case it is one where you voice your druthers regarding your funeral arrangements. Having those documents in place, signed and filed when required will save your family and those who are your executors hours and days of frustrations.
Hi Didge~ No matter what age you are, you should have a living will. Even if you think you might have nothing, you have something. You could live a Zen life style and still have something that someone else could use. It is courteous to the people who cared about you and the your remains to have things in order. It doesn't take much to help the people who are left living. They will appreciate it very much. This way they don't feel badly about giving some item you wanted specifically to go to someone or bicker over something everyone wanted. Give yourself a nice goodbye and thanks to everyone left. You will make a nice lasting impression and set an example for others who didn't think that far ahead. You can always change it along your life path. Anyone can fall off a curb and die or get hit by a train or jump out of an airplane or drown in 2 inches of water. You never know.
Hi Didge~ No matter what age you are, you should have a living will. Even if you think you might have nothing, you have something. You could live a Zen life style and still have something that someone else could use. It is courteous to the people who cared about you and the your remains to have things in order. It doesn't take much to help the people who are left living. They will appreciate it very much. This way they don't feel badly about giving some item you wanted specifically to go to someone or bicker over something everyone wanted. Give yourself a nice goodbye and thanks to everyone left. You will make a nice lasting impression and set an example for others who didn't think that far ahead. You can always change it along your life path. Anyone can fall off a curb and die or get hit by a train or jump out of an airplane or drown in 2 inches of water. You never know.
Malizz 