What to Include in Your Will

While it is not something that most people want to think about, death is inevitable. So, you should be prepared for that eventuality, and have a will in place. Many people are saving money by creating their own wills. This is something that anyone can do, but keep in mind that there may be some aspects that you need help with from a lawyer, and you will need to have a notary witness the signature on the will, as well as witness signatures. Some wills maybe more complicated than others, but there are some things that are common to most wills, including:

Basic Information

You will needs to include basic information, such as your full name, your current address, and the date that you signed the will. If there are any changes (a name change, change of address, etc.), you can contact your lawyer to update the will at any time. Also make sure that you include a statement that this is your final will and testament, and that it replaces any other wills you may have made in the past.

Name the Executor

You need to name someone who will be in charge of seeing that all of the instructions in your will are taken care of. This is the executor, and should be a person who is close to you, such as a family member or a close friend. Make sure that this person knows that they have been named as the executor, as they may not wish to do it and you will need to choose someone else. In the will, state that the executor has complete rights to the management of your estate, so there will be no legal issues that can be contested in court. The executor will be in charge of paying any of your outstanding debts and paying for funeral expenses with money that you have named for these purposes.

Choose Your Benefactors

Now it is time to figure out who gets what from your estate. You need to carefully list how you want any assets to be divided. Each beneficiary must be named, with exactly what is being left to them. You may also want to list secondary beneficiaries. They will receive the estate if the original beneficiaries are no longer living at the time of your death.

Plan for Child Care

It is important that you name someone to look after your children should you pass away while they are still minors. Make sure that any dependent children are included in your will, and that there is not only someone responsible to raise them, but also money for basic necessities, education, etc.

For more information, check out companies such as Holloway Jenkins Lawyers.


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