It’s easy to procrastinate when it comes to estate planning. For most of us, it’s a topic that is uncomfortable to discuss – and pushing those conversations to tomorrow, next month, next year is much more palatable than facing them head on.
But planning for your eventual death is a necessary part of life.
With careful preparation and a little assistance, it is also an easy and inexpensive way to enjoy the peace of mind that your loved ones will be allotted property and otherwise treated exactly as you wish after your passing.
Writing a will can be as simple as writing out how you want your assets to be transferred to loved ones or charitable organizations after your death. However, because there exist laws governing the specifics of estate disposition, it may be beneficial to seek some legal advice from me or another trusted local lawyer. The laws in making a valid will vary to some degree and require different things for different states.
The personal finance section of USA.gov outlines a few important and easy to follow guidelines to writing a will:
- In most states, you must be 18 years of age or older.
- A will must be written in sound judgment and mental capacity to be valid.
- The document must clearly state that it is your will.
- An executor of your will, who ensures your estate is distributed according to your wishes, must be named.
- It may not be necessary to notarize or record your will but these can safeguard against any claims that your will is invalid. To be valid, you must sign a will in the presence of at least two witnesses. There are other requirements, depending on your location.
I also get calls at my office from folks who’d like to make changes to their will.
Just as important as crafting the document is ensuring that any revisions you feel necessary are made quickly, completely and lawfully. Contact me to help ensure that your final wishes are met and your loved ones are provided for as you see fit.